BEIJING -- China has revised a regulation on elderly care institutions, requiring nursing homes to improve their response to public health emergencies in light of COVID-19.

The regulation requires nursing homes to timely report confirmed or suspected cases of infectious diseases among the elderly and take sanitary and quarantine measures accordingly.

It also specifies measures to ensure the institutions' security. Nursing homes are asked to install surveillance cameras in their public areas and keep the footage on file, with staff on duty around the clock, according to the rules.

The regulation will go into effect on Nov 1.