Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), has urged the Ningxia Hui autonomous region to contain the spread of a new wave of COVID-19 infections at an early date and minimize the impact brought by the pandemic.

Ma made the remarks during an inspection tour of Ningxia, which was entrusted by Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan, from Oct 24 to 25.

Ma held a meeting with officials from the leading group of the COVID-19 prevention and control work of Ningxia upon his arrival on the afternoon of Oct 24.

After a briefing of the work done by the local government to cope with the latest resurgence of COVID-19, Ma stressed that the autonomous region should fully understand the importance and urgency of responding to the epidemic in a timely fashion, put the prevention and control of the virus on top of its agenda, resolutely carry out COVID-19 prevention and control measures, and not allow hard-earned previous achievements in epidemic control to be made in vain.

Apart from further strengthening its measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 within the pathogen's incubation period, Ningxia was urged to thoroughly implement the arrangements of the latest press conference of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, which included nucleic acid testing, epidemiological investigations, well-regulated management of isolation points and residential communities, medical screening of high-risk people in other regions, the treatment of confirmed cases and the prevention of the occurrence of the virus in medical institutes.

Moreover, Ningxia shall channel its commanding resources down to the lower level to ensure full implementation of all epidemic prevention and control measures, mobilize local officials to take the lead in the fight against COVID-19 on the frontlines, strengthen the training and guidance of cadres in pandemic prevention and control, and strive for solid progress in the anti-COVID battle.

Those in attendance of the meeting included Chen Run'er, Party chief of Ningxia, Xian Hui, chairwoman of Ningxia, Zhao Yongqing, vice-chairman of Ningxia, Chang Jile and Lu Jiang, deputy heads of the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control.