At a press briefing on Beijing's COVID-19 response on 18 April, Liu Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, cautioned that despite limited local transmission, Beijing still faces considerable risks of sporadic infections caused by imported cases. The recent cluster of local infections caused by an imported case once again sounded the alarm and highlighted the complexity and severity of the COVID-19 challenge. The CDC cautioned that people with contact history such as those who have recently been to hard-hit countries or regions or had contact with confirmed cases must pay close attention to their health conditions and seek medical counseling and screening right away should any symptoms appear.

The CDC advises another 7-day home observation after a 14-day quarantine at designated facilities. During home observation, one should live separately or in a separate room, ensure ventilation, use a dedicated toilet if possible and keep it sanitized and disinfected. Dining separately is required. Those under home observation should get daily necessities with the help of family members or friends, avoid outdoor activities or gathering, refrain from contacts with others, and in particular keep away from high-risk population such as the elderly and vulnerable people. Mask is not a must when living alone. When in the same room, however, both the one under home observation and other family members should wear surgical masks and stay at least one meter away from each other. A mask should be changed once it gets wet or stained by secretion.

Those under home observation are also advised to: wash hands often, with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching mouth, nose, and eyes with hands, and cover mouth and nose with tissue, mask or their bent elbow when sneezing or coughing; clean their room at least once a day with a wet rag or mop to maintain room hygiene and disinfect the room as needed; take body temperature at least once in the morning and once in the evening and closely monitor body condition for fever, cough or any other possible symptoms.

Those under home observation must not take chances. If fever, cough or other symptoms appear, however mild, they must report to a community worker immediately, go to the nearest fever clinic wearing a surgical mask, and tell the doctor their travel and contact history and quarantine and observation information to get a timely diagnosis.