At a meeting on March 12, Premier Li Keqiang stressed region-specific, tiered and targeted prevention and control of the novel coronavirus, and prevention of cross-border spread of the epidemic.

The Premier is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and also head of the leading group on novel coronavirus prevention and control.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, also attended the meeting.

According to those at the meeting, efforts should be made to continue prevention and control work in Central China’s Hubei province, with Wuhan in particular, especially the treatment of critically ill patients. Efforts also should be made to take targeted measures to prevent cross-border spreading of the epidemic, increase support for people experiencing difficulties, and accelerate the resumption of production and work.

Based on current achievements, Hubei province, with Wuhan in particular, should put medical treatment first, improve treatment of critical ill patients, enhance epidemic prevention and control in communities, and allow medical staff to have days off by turns.

Also, efforts should be made to ensure basic daily needs for the public, provide normal medical treatment of other diseases, and organize efforts to send non-local people stranded in Hubei province to their hometowns in an orderly manner, according to those at the meeting.

As COVID-19 cases are rising fast outside China, central and local governments should jointly keep a close eye on global outbreak dynamics and take targeted measures to prevent imported cases while stemming domestic ones from spreading abroad.

Such measures should align with the latest assessment of the epidemic from the World Health Organization, as well as intentional practices, those at the meeting noted.

To bolster global efforts in joint prevention and control of COVID-19, China should create mechanisms for data sharing, inspection and quarantine at cross-border ports, emergency response, among others, and assist other countries and international organizations involved.

While meeting domestic needs, the group encouraged Chinese enterprises to produce more anti-epidemic supplies for overseas commercial procurement.

Those at the meeting also stressed guarantee measures for those living in poverty, the disabled, and other special groups, and solving their problems.

Meanwhile, all the untended children due to quarantine in the epidemic should be reported and taken care of, and the life of orphans and the elderly living alone should be ensured.

Psychological assistance will also be provided for patients, their families, and those who lost their family members in the epidemic.

According to those at the meeting, the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council should adjust the guide for work and production resumption in line with the latest development of the epidemic, and promote rapid recovery of life and production when the virus is effectively curbed.

Ding Xuexiang, Huang Kunming, Cai Qi, Wang Yi, Xiao Jie and Zhao Kezhi, members of the leading group, also attended the meeting.