NHC: Guidance provided to Beijing on control of cluster cases to prevent an outbreak

After cluster cases of COVID-19 were reported in Beijing, the National Health Commission (NHC) has swiftly provided guidance to the capital on control measures. Since 11 June, Minister of the NHC Ma Xiaowei has chaired multiple meetings on this topic. The NHC has sent an expert team to Beijing to guide its response. Medical experts with experience in fighting the virus in Wuhan, especially in areas of epidemiological investigation and environmental disinfection, have also been brought in to support Beijing.

In light of the situation on the ground, the NHC has outlined specific requirements for Beijing. It has also developed plans to further enhance containment measures at hospitals in Beijing directly under the NHC and to strengthen nationwide response.

Specifically, according to NHC's requirements, Beijing needs to expand environmental and item sampling at the Xinfadi Wholesale Market and other farm produce markets, expand nucleic acid testing for key areas and population groups, expand epidemiological investigations of close and secondary close contacts, and expand medical observation of related persons.

Beijing also needs to strengthen management and screening of fever clinics at medical institutions, strengthen prevention of hospital-acquired infections, strengthen reporting and release of case information, and strengthen public awareness campaign.

The NHC has also called for early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment. Cases should be reported directly online within two hours after their detection, nucleic acid test results be made available within 12 hours, and epidemiological investigations be finished within 24 hours. In addition, the NHC has invited experts to release authoritative information on a regular basis to address public concerns.