China released a circular on further optimizing the COVID-19 response yesterday, announcing 10 prevention and control measures.
The measures were introduced based on the latest epidemic situation and mutation of the virus, according to the circular issued by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19.
Relevant departments are required to rectify oversimplified or one-size-fits-all approaches to maximize the protection of people’s lives and health and minimize the impact of the epidemic on economic and social development.
The circular prohibits arbitrary expansion of high-risk areas and calls for delineating COVID-19 risk areas in a science-based and targeted manner. It adds that such areas should be designated by buildings, units, floors and households, instead of residential compounds, communities and subdistrict (towns and townships).
People will not be subjected to mass testing according to administrative regions, and the scope and frequency of testing will be further reduced, the circular notes.
Apart from nursing homes, medical institutions, primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and other special places, people will no longer be required to provide negative nucleic acid test results and undergo health code checks to access public venues or travel to other regions.
If their home conditions allow, asymptomatic carriers and those with mild symptoms can undergo home quarantine, while close contacts should undergo five days of home quarantine. Quarantine measures imposed on high-risk areas must be lifted if no new infections are reported for five consecutive days.
People’s basic needs to purchase medication should be ensured. Pharmacies should operate normally and willful closures are prohibited, the circular notes.
Vaccination efforts should be ramped up among the elderly, with a focus on improving the vaccination rate among people aged between 60 and 79. The vaccination rate among people aged 80 and older should be also accelerated. Vaccination services will be optimized by setting up special channels and temporary vaccination sites, and deploying mobile vaccination vehicles, according to the circular.
Primary-level medical institutions and family doctors should deliver targeted services to key groups based on the health status of elderly people, according to the circular.
The normal functioning of the society and basic medical services must continue, the circular states, adding that non-high-risk areas shall not impose travel restrictions or suspend businesses.