Premier Li urges measures to curb epidemic

Releasing epidemic information to the public and transparency are vital for COVID-19 prevention and treatment, so concealment or omission will not be tolerated, Premier Li Keqiang said at the State Council executive meeting on Jan 8, 2021.

The meeting stressed promoting the revision of Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, and improving the system of infectious disease prevention and control.

Premier Li said that strengthening infectious disease prevention and treatment concerns the safety and health of the general public, as well as national security and social stability.

In order to provide a more solid legal foundation for infectious disease prevention and treatment, prompt efforts should be carried out to improve relevant laws, while adhering to the principle of "people first, life first" and combining the experiences in combating COVID-19.

Early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment of infectors should be strictly carried out, and the system for monitoring, warning, reporting and information disclosure should be improved, according to the meeting.

Classification of infectious diseases, emergency measures and the epidemic treatment system should be improved as well.

The law will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation after revisions and improvement.

China has found sporadic COVID-19 cases and even regional outbreaks recently, Premier Li said, urging that epidemic prevention and control must not relent in this critical winter.

And the Premier requested the State Council to establish a joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19 to strengthen guidance and coordination of local and related parties to resolutely curb the spread.