Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, speaks at an online interview with CCTV News, on Jan 16, 2022. [Photo/CCTV News app]

A top health expert said Tianjin would have "zero cases" of COVID-19 within a short time.

"The first stage is to achieve the goal of zero-transmission in communities outside quarantine. The second is to have no new cases detected within quarantine sites and areas sealed off for stricter management," said Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

"When we have achieved the goal, which indicates the pandemic has been brought under basic control in Tianjin, the next step to is cure the patients," Zhang told media on Sunday.

Zhang said progress of the fight against the pandemic in Tianjin is better and faster than he expected.

"The effect is good. I estimate that all the patients will be cleared outside quarantines in a few days, and I also estimate that there may be no new patients detected in a few days in the city, as strict measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus continue to be introduced," he said.

Meanwhile Zhang urged quarantine for all infected people who have only mild symptoms, as well as asymptomatic carriers, in designated hospitals to contain the spread COVID-19.

In some foreign countries, asymptomatic people and those with mild symptoms are only required to isolate themselves at home, and that results in the wider spread of the coronavirus throughout society, he said.

Zhang, 74, also urged all recent travelers, as well as students who have left Tianjin previously, to report to local departments in their hometowns and put themselves in quarantine if they develop symptoms to prevent the coronavirus from spreading outside the city.

"Universities and schools must tell every student who has left Tianjin for home to spend winter holidays to do that," Zhang said.

Zhang said the Omicron variant is characterized by its rapid spread and strong concealment, but most patients develop only mild symptoms.

Traditional Chinese medicine is effective for treating patients confirmed with the Omicron strain, Zhang said, and he urged those who have only mild symptoms and asymptomatic carriers to be treated with TCM.

TCM can help improve symptoms, including fever, cough and sore throat and prevent the patients' condition from worsening, he added.