SHANGHAI (Reuters). China’s latest COVID-19 virus outbreak is growing rapidly. The authorities are requesting high vigilance in ports of entry to prevent further spread from the virus.

National Health Commission data revealed that 377 cases were confirmed to have been domestically transmitted from October 17 through 29. China managed to contain a number of epidemics since the country’s initial 2020 national spread.

These numbers still pale in comparison to clusters that exist outside of China. The rest of the world is still trying to figure out how COVID can be co-existed with, but China continues to insist on zero tolerance. They urge vigilance along borders and ports in order to keep infected travelers from spreading the disease to their local communities.

Mi Feng, spokesperson for the NHC said that 14 provinces have reported cases of locally transmitted disease or carriers in the last 14 days.

“The virus is rapidly spreading and there is a severe and complex situation in the control of it.”

Heihe (a tiny northeastern municipality of 1.3million inhabitants) reported 26 local cases of disease for October 29, an increase of nine from Oct. 28, and only one on Oct. 27, respectively.

Wu Liangyou, another NHC official said that the outbreak had exposed laxity in mind among local authorities.

Wu said that China’s ports of entry should be able to strengthen their screening for people at high risk of infection and increase monitoring for potential flare ups. The virus has been spreading throughout the world, Wu explained in a news briefing.

Wu stated that surveys and viral sequencing data showed that the Heihe cluster was not related to the ongoing epidemic in China’s northwestern regions. This suggests there may have been a new source for virus from abroad.

According to the NHC, many local infected people in China’s north and northwest since Oct. 17, could have been brought in virus from abroad.

China’s frontier towns have suffered more disruptions from the epidemics than cities with greater resources.

Ruili in the southwest, bordering Myanmar, has seen its once-strong jewellery trade, an important pillar of its modest economic structure, suffer from some of China’s most severe virus outbreaks.

Major cities have set strict restrictions on virus imports to minimize the possibility of spreading virus.

A booster shot must be administered to Chinese athletes and support staff in order for the Winter Olympics Games to take place safely. Boosters are not required but recommended.

Wu stated that China aims to have all children aged 3-11 vaccinated by December 31, excluding any child with a medical condition that could make a COVID-19 shot dangerous.

About 75.8% have been vaccinated and eligible adults are being given a booster shot.