Whole world needs to take pandemic seriously

Following an all-out response to a recent cluster of novel coronavirus infections linked to a local hospital, including citywide nucleic acid tests, the city of Qingdao was able to swiftly announce an otherwise all clear.

The detection of 138 asymptomatic cases in Kashgar in the northwest Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has triggered an equally rigorous local containment response. Expansive quarantining and testing are underway. Travel alerts have been issued. Outbound travel in particular is subject to stricter control measures.

While it might not be feasible for other countries to copy and paste these Chinese responses, that, however, does not mean they are meaningless elsewhere.