Ma Xiaowei, minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), led a survey in South China's Guangdong province on May 20 and 21. He visited COVID-19 vaccination sites at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou city and at the Zhuhai Sports Center in Zhuhai city, and Gongbei Port in Zhuhai. He also inspected the Bioland Laboratory in Guangzhou and held symposiums with relevant officials.

Recent years witnessed significant progress in public health reform and development in Guangdong, he noted, adding that as a province with large population flows Guangdong should spare no efforts in COVID-19 prevention and control and speed up vaccination.

He also stressed that people's health is the cornerstone of national security. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading globally and sporadic outbreaks of local cluster infections have been reported. He added that in the face of a serious and complicated situation, measures should be tightened to prevent both imported cases and indigenous rebounds and to complete vaccination tasks on schedule in a bid to consolidate the achievements in the anti-virus fight and promote high-quality growth of public health services.