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China Vows to Stem Coronavirus Cross-Border Spread, Expedite Manufacturing Resumption

March 16, 2020

 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, March 16, 2020

 

China vows to stem coronavirus cross-border spread, expedite manufacturing resumption

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-16 22:05:32|

Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) --

Chinese authorities on Monday stressed taking accurate measures against the cross-border spread of coronavirus and speeding up work and manufacturing resumption in all aspects.

A leading group of China's novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic response convened a meeting on Monday, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The meeting called for adapting epidemic prevention and control efforts to new changes, doing a good job in the follow-up work of epidemic prevention and control, and expediting the restoration of people's normal work and life.

PREVENTING VIRUS CROSS-BORDER SPREAD

"At present, the situation of epidemic prevention and control in China continues to improve, and the virus spread is basically under control," said an official statement issued after the meeting.

Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan, the epicenter city of the COVID-19 outbreak, were urged to concentrate health experts and medical resources in intensified efforts of treating severe cases and reducing the fatality rate.

Authorities urged precautions against the emergence of any new sporadic or clustered cases.

"Currently, the influx of infections from overseas brings uncertainty to the end of the epidemic in China," the statement said, underscoring the necessity to "accurately step up prevention and control measures against the import and export of infections."

The meeting required intensified communication, cooperation and coordination of actions between China's health, customs, immigration and education authorities and their counterparts in relevant countries for the joint implementation of travel-related guidelines on epidemic prevention and control.

The reporting system of COVID-19 shall be strictly implemented by individuals, localities, accommodation providers and families, the statement said, demanding sound efforts in issuing reminders on outbound travels by domestic residents.

Monday's meeting also called for intensified international cooperation on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment methods, and medicines.

RESUMING WORK, MANUFACTURING

The follow-up work of epidemic prevention and control shall be carried out in an orderly manner, focusing on caring for and helping certain groups of people, restoring normal social order, and helping market players resume work and manufacturing, according to the meeting.

Authorities stressed guaranteeing wages and other rights and interests of workers who were quarantined in accordance with the law, encouraging enterprises to stabilize employment relations by adjusting salaries, shortening working hours, and arranging work shifts and breaks.

Greater efforts should be made to promote the employment of farmers-turned workers, especially those who are poor or from Hubei, according to the meeting.

"At present, most provincial-level regions have lowered the level of emergency response to the epidemic," the statement said.

It said epidemic prevention and control measures taken during the resumption of work and manufacturing should be optimized as per the requirements of coordinating the virus battle and economic and social development.

The statement demanded inter-regional coordination in this regard and efforts to facilitate workers to return to their posts "as soon as possible" through point-to-point transportation.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/16/c_138884354.htm  

WHO says confirmed COVID-19 cases, deaths outside China exceed those inside

Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-17 01:50:14|Editor: huaxia

GENEVA, March 16 (Xinhua) --

More cases and deaths of COVID-19 have now been reported in the rest of the world than in China, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Monday, noting that a rapid escalation of the coronavirus cases has been seen in the past week.

As of Monday morning, a total of more than 83,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported outside China, exceeding the cumulative number of infections in China, and over 6,400 patients have died of COVID-19 worldwide, according to WHO.

"We have seen a rapid escalation in social distancing measures, like closing schools, canceling sporting events and other gatherings." WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a daily briefing.

However, Tedros warned escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing is not urgent enough, stressing these measures are the backbone of the COVID-19 response.

The most effective way to prevent infections and save lives is breaking the chains of COVID-19 transmission, said Tedros, highlighting the necessity of testing and isolating cases in response to the pandemic.

"You cannot fight a fire blindfolded and we cannot stop this pandemic if we don't know who is infected," he said, calling for every suspected case testing.

Moreover, Tedros said WHO advises that all confirmed COVID-19 cases, even mild cases, should be isolated in health facilities to prevent transmission.

He added countries and regions, which have exceeded their capacity to care for mild cases in dedicated health facilities, should prioritize older patients and those with underlying conditions.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/17/c_138884698.htm

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