BEIJING — A Chinese health official stressed the occupational safety and health of construction workers amid the COVID-19 epidemic at a press conference on May 17.

Fan Jingguang, an official with the National Health Commission, urged the closed-off management of construction sites, ventilation of enclosed workplaces, sanitation and disinfection in workers' living quarters, flexible work shifts and staggered dining times, among other specific measures to guard against COVID-19.

Enterprises should provide workers with standard protective supplies as well as training sessions on occupational safety and health, Fan said.

He also highlighted measures for construction worker protection during hot summer days, including health checkups, shortened working hours and heatstroke prevention and first aid plans.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, more than 58 million people worked in the construction sector in 2018.