The National Health Commission (NHC) held a conference via video link on Aug 8 to urge strict measures to curb COVID-19. Ma Xiaowei, minister of the NHC, attended and spoke at the conference.

It was highlighted at the conference that current top priority should be given to COVID-19 prevention and control. All-out efforts should be made to bolster defense against both imported cases and indigenous cases in a bid to stem the epidemic resurgence.

The conference underscored that local health authorities should further defuse potential risks and intensify anti-virus work. Epidemic monitoring and information reporting should be enhanced and swift actions should be taken immediately in response to any reports of positive COVID-19 tests.

Meanwhile, special personnel should be arranged for regular inspection of and strict guidance to COVID-19 containment at airports and ports in order to prevent imported cases. Medical drills should be held in line with the requirements of guidelines to elevate emergency response efficiency and capability to deal with COVID-19 clusters.

Vigorous standards should be established for designated hospitals and a mechanism integrating evaluation, examination, investigation and accountability should be improved to strengthen hospital-acquired COVID-19 infection control.

Efforts should also be redoubled for management of regions with risk groups. Working jointly with local investigation personnel, related departments should complete registration of new arrivals and risk control within time limits.

The conference urged health authorities to better play their role in the fight against COVID-19, continue to improve anti-virus capabilities and promote cooperation with the State Council's joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism. Local working groups sent by the mechanism should go deep into supervision and inspection to push forward risk identification and rectification.

The conference was presided over by NHC Vice-minister Li Bin. NHC officials Wang Hesheng, Yu Xuejun, Lei Haichao, Wang Jianjun and Yu Yanhong attended the conference on site or online. Other participants included officials from the National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control, the State Council's joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism and local health authorities.