Chinese authorities will make more efforts to treat severe patients and lower the mortality rate by pooling strong medical resources, ensure supply of daily necessities in Central China's Hubei province, especially Wuhan city, roll out detailed measures on epidemic control on key groups, and strengthen international cooperation with the World Health Organization and related countries, according to those at a meeting.
Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and head of the leading group on novel coronavirus prevention and control, presided over the meeting on Feb 27.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the group, also attended the meeting.
With concerted efforts of all parties, the proportion of severe cases among all confirmed cases has decreased significantly in recent days, while there are still relatively large number of severe cases across China, mainly in Hubei province, with Wuhan in particular, according to those at the meeting.
Therefore, strengthening treatment of severe and critically ill patients is the key part of the current epidemic prevention and control.
It was urged at the meeting to formulate a special plan to optimize the allocation of medical resources and guide Hubei province and Wuhan city to eliminate the mismatch between patients and medical personnel.
Experts should be sent to places that need them the most, and related departments should promptly deliver a batch of medical equipment, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygen for the treatment of critically ill patients to increase the cure rate and reduce the death rate as much as possible.
To facilitate the comprehensive epidemic prevention and control in Hubei province and Wuhan city, the supply of daily necessities should be ensured by enhancing the local supply capacity, strengthening the allocation of related products beyond the province, giving full play to the role of enterprises in increasing supply, and ensuring smooth transportation.
There must be sufficient supplies of grain, oil, meat, vegetables, eggs and fruits in Hubei market, those at the meeting urged.
The delivery of daily necessities in communities must be taken seriously in Hubei province and Wuhan city, to ensure the basic living of residents, including those who are from other provinces but stranded in Hubei province due to the epidemic.
According to those at the meeting, the hierarchical and differentiated prevention should be further implemented with a focus on key regions and groups, and enterprises and public institutions should strictly follow prevention guidelines and local requirements when resuming work and production.
While improving the prevention measures for the elderly and children, universities, middle and primary schools, and kindergartens should continue to postpone the coming term in principle.
It was required at the meeting that the suggestions proposed by the joint expert team of China and the WHO during the inspection on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile, China will continue to enhance cooperation with WHO and related countries and regions, share epidemic prevention information and methods, and participate in the international cooperation in treatment schemes, drugs selection, and vaccine development.
China will establish and improve the coordination and emergency response mechanism with nations with frequent personnel exchanges, and formulate prevention standards on transnational vehicles, ports, and exit and entry of persons with high infection risks to guard against the import and export of the virus.
Ding Xuexiang, Huang Kunming, Cai Qi, Wang Yi, Xiao Jie and Zhao Kezhi, members of the leading group, also attended the meeting.
