Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to consolidate achievements in preventing and controlling novel coronavirus disease and taking preventive measures to contain asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.

Premier Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and also head of the leading group on novel coronavirus prevention and control, made the remarks at a meeting on March 30.

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, under the new major changes of the epidemic control situation at home and abroad, Chinese authorities will improve control and response measures, and continue to take preventive measures to contain COVID-19 cases showing no symptoms.

Work should be continued in the treatment of critically ill patients, 14-day quarantine and 28-day follow-up observation of discharged patients, monitoring of related cases in fever clinics and reporting of infectious diseases, according to those at the meeting.

Local governments at all levels must release the information in an open and transparent way, which will not only help the public to protect themselves, but also promote orderly resumption of work and production.

Stressing the importance of preventing cross-border import and export of the disease, those at the meeting were urged to improve testing capability, provide more equipment and facilities, and give nucleic acid testing to all people entering China.

Overseas embassies, consulates and related departments must protect overseas Chinese citizens, and give them protection guidance and material support.

To consolidate the achievement so far and prevent loopholes during epidemic prevention and control, efforts must be made to monitor, track, quarantine and treat asymptomatic cases, according to those at the meeting.

It is necessary to increase the screening of asymptomatic infection in a targeted manner, and expand the NAT to the close contacts of confirmed cases and asymptomatic cases that have been detected, as well as key areas and populations.

Once asymptomatic cases are detected, early reporting, diagnosis and treatment should be in place with a strict quarantine and medical observation.

Meanwhile, information should be released in a transparent manner to prevent missed reports and close contacts should be under quarantine for medical observation.

According to those at the meeting, sampling surveys should be conducted in hard-hit areas for asymptomatic carrier investigation and epidemiological analysis to improve prevention measures.

It also asked to conduct regular reviews on discharged patients and enhance management of those with positive test results after being discharged from hospitals.

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