Country requires all able hands on deck: China Daily editorial

The National Health Commission stopped disclosing the daily COVID-19 pandemic data on Sunday.

That move marks the fight with the virus has entered a new stage, for the data has been widely taken as a foundation for policymaking and adjustment. It signals that more must be done to address the challenges posed by the continuous resurgence of infections nationwide.

That the public health system in Beijing, which has the most medical care resources in the country, has been under great strain because of the sharp rise of severe cases caused by the virus should serve to make the dire situations elsewhere in the country imaginable, particularly the rural areas where the gap between people's demands and the supplies of medical resources is much bigger.

Although most of those infected with the novel coronavirus recover after several days of home quarantine, the virus still poses a risk to senior residents, especially those with underlying health conditions.

China has about 270 million people aged 60 and above, and 36 million aged 80 and above, more than the total of that of all developed economies combined. While the overall capacity of China's intensive care units is much smaller in comparison with those countries. Not to mention the uneven distribution of health care resources nationwide.

That's why the COVID-19 prevention and control task force of the State Council, China's Cabinet, recently urged all local governments to prioritize treatment for the aged population, and all major hospitals to serve as the key defensive line for saving lives.

The NHC has demanded these major hospitals to double the number of intensive care unit sickbeds by the end of this month from the current 4 percent of their total number of sickbeds to at least 8 percent.

Meanwhile, local governments now need to divert their focus and inputs from nucleic acid testing and building collective quarantine stations to increasing the production and supplies of anti-fever and anti-inflammatory medicines to meet the surging demand. Local authorities should also pay attention to the scientific advice and keep the public informed of the pandemic situation.

The current wave of infections will peak and people have no reason not to remain confident in the country's fight with the virus, which continues to put saving people's lives and protecting people's health first.

Following the basic protocol of good hygiene habits, isolating at home, if one does become infected, and doing one's job well are all important contributions that individuals can make to ensure the country passes this test as quickly as possible.