Passengers arrive at Beijing Railway Station on Jan 17. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Local authorities are urged to step up health monitoring of people returning to the countryside from other regions during the Chinese New Year holiday, while avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, officials said on Saturday. 

Mao Dezhi, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said screening targeting people returning from key regions should be ramped up and all returnees should be reminded to monitor their health status and avoid gatherings.

"It is also important to be precise and responsive in work, and avoid over simplistic or rough measures," Mao said. He added that rural authorities should also step up emergency preparedness, so as to report new infections and roll out relevant measures immediately. 

Fu Wei, an official with the National Health Commission, added that primary medical institutions, such as rural clinics, should also play their roles in detecting and reporting suspicious cases of people with a fever.