Improved care sought for COVID-19 patients

Regions nationwide should step up efforts to improve their capacity to provide pre-emergency hospitalization services for COVID-19 patients, the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism said in a notice released online on Dec 28.

The notice referred provincial-level authorities to the methods employed by Beijing, Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang to tackle surging cases. It tasked authorities with increasing the numbers of ambulances, drivers and first-aid workers.

Authorities are also required to increase the capacity of the 120 emergency hotline to receive calls and better educate the public on only using the service for emergencies, said the notice, which also encouraged hospitals to provide 24-hour medical and psychological consultations online.

In addition to ensuring efficient treatment, hospitalization and transport for the critically ill, authorities should set up 24-hour hotlines to deal with nonemergency inquiries, and mobilize buses and other vehicles to transport patients in less critical condition.

Reopen courier hubs, State Council says

China should speed up the reopening of courier service stations that have been closed and allow couriers who meet epidemic prevention requirements to return to work as soon as possible, the office of the State Council's leading group for ensuring smooth logistics services said in a notice released online on Dec 29.

In the notice, the office asked provincial-level authorities to refrain from taking excessive epidemic prevention measures and to ensure that mail and packages are delivered promptly.

Authorities should strengthen support for courier service companies and make up for staff shortages, adding that they should also help companies provide couriers with meals, lodging, epidemic prevention supplies and vaccinations.

Authorities are also urged to address the backlog of mail and packages and ensure the delivery of medicines, epidemic prevention supplies and daily necessities.

Measures to boost economic-tech zones

The Ministry of Commerce and nine other departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission, have issued a notice laying out a series of measures to boost the performance of national economic-technological development zones.

In an effort to help attract more investment, the departments plan to harness the influence of platforms such as the China International Fair for Investment and Trade and the China International Import Expo, to improve awareness of the zones.

Qualified officials from the zones will be selected and sent to work in the commercial sections of Chinese embassies and consulates to expand international exchange. The departments will make full use of existing funding to help the zones host events to attract investment.

The departments will also promote the development of manufacturing projects in the zones by optimizing environmental impact assessments, ensuring the projects have enough land for development and strengthening financial support.

The notice encouraged manufacturing companies in the zones to use new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and industrial cloud computing, and said the country supports foreign investments in establishing research and development centers, among other measures.