China Daily (Hong Kong)

Health drive to be stepped up

State Council meeting noted that winter is critical season for promoting campaign

- By ZHANG YUE zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn

China will promote its public health campaign nation wide as it works to prevent COVID19 and other diseases in winter and build a Healthy China, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Friday.

It was agreed that the public health campaign plays an impor tant role in protecting and promoting people’s health, and work on this front must stepped up.

The meeting noted that winter is a critical season for promoting the campaign and competent department­s should facilitate relevant work. It is important to synergize efforts in conducting the campaign and stepping up prevention and control of COVID 19, influenza and other infectious diseases. Containmen­t measures should be maintained throughout the winter.

Regular hand washing , proper ventilatio­n, singleserv­ings of food and serving chopsticks are encouraged.

Wearing of masks and social distancing requiremen­ts should be fulfilled in light of the containmen­t needs.

The meeting urged drawing on containmen­t experience­s and science-based assessment for COVID 19 developmen­ts.

Contingenc­y responses for containing local clusters of cases should be refined and reserves of material supplies enhanced.

More efforts will be undertaken to realize effective mobilizati­on of containmen­t resources for epidemiolo­gical investigat­ion, testing and medical treatment. Relevant informatio­n will be released in a fact-based transparen­t manner.

The meeting called for a comprehens­ive overhaul of residentia­l living conditions in both rural and urban areas. Efforts will be made for environmen­t sanitation improvemen­ts in key areas and where notable sanitation laps es are evident— such as produce markets, canteens and older residentia­l communitie­s.

Sanitation systems will be strengthen­ed to eliminate an y breeding ground for pathogenic microorgan­isms.

Public sewage and garbage treatment facilities will be improved as well as those dealing with medical waste and sewage.

The meeting also called for encouragin­g healthier living habits among the general public, which includes quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, regular exercise and healthier diets.

Basic knowledge of medical care and health will be promoted more widely to the general public. Health education will also be included as part of the national education system in an effort to raise the quality of public health and awareness in this regard.

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