BEIJING — China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on March 6 released a circular asking authorities across the country to pay daily visits to extremely needy elderly people who are quarantined at home due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The circular stresses better caring services amid the epidemic for such elderly people, including those who live alone and cannot take care of themselves, who are quarantined and have no family, whose family members are also quarantined and others in need.

Their families' epidemic prevention situation, as well as their daily needs, health and mental state should be thoroughly checked, and diversified measures should be carried out to target different groups, according to the circular.

The measures include helping such elderly people apply for temporary subsidies and other types of social relief, organizing temporary caretakers and supporting elderly care institutions in prioritizing the applications of elderly people in need.

Moreover, the circular noted that if the aforementioned elderly people have suspected symptoms of COVID-19, local authorities should immediately send them to medical facilities based on both the local joint prevention and control mechanism and the instructions of disease control bodies.