China enters new phase of COVID response

Focus of COVID -19 response

The focus of China's new phase of COVID-19 response is on protecting people's health and preventing severe cases.

The elderly, pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic, underlying diseases are vulnerable groups in the face of COVID-19.

Efforts have been intensified to facilitate the vaccination of the elderly against the virus. Services have been improved. In some regions, the elderly can have medics visit their homes to administer vaccine doses.

Amid China's efforts to improve its preparedness, authorities have urged hospitals of various levels to ensure that fever clinics are available to patients in need.

As of Dec. 25, 2022, there were more than 16,000 fever clinics in hospitals at or above the level of grade two across the country, and more than 41,000 fever clinics or consulting rooms in community-based health institutions.

In central Beijing's Xicheng district, a makeshift fever clinic was formally opened at the Guang'an Gymnasium on Dec 14, 2022.

Starting from Dec 22, 2022, many sidewalk facilities, originally used as part of the nucleic acid testing process, were converted into temporary fever consulting rooms in Xiaodian District of northern China's Taiyuan City. These fever rooms provide consultation services and distribute fever reducers free of charge.

From coordinating medical resources to increasing the capacity of hospitals to receive severe cases, hospitals across the country have been operating in full swing and devoting more resources to the treatment of severe cases.

Official data showed that as of Dec 25, 2022, there were a total of 181,000 intensive care beds in China, up by 31,000 or 20.67 percent compared with Dec 13.

A multi-pronged approach has been adopted to meet people's needs for drugs. Speeding up the review of much-needed medical products, the National Medical Products Administration had, as of Dec 20, 2022, granted marketing authorization to 11 drugs for COVID-19 treatment.

At the same time, community-based voluntary actions were taken by residents in many cities to help each other by sharing medical products, including temperature measurement kits and antipyretics.

Shoring up confidence

Managing COVID-19 with measures against Class B infectious diseases is a complicated task for the country.

The 40-day Spring Festival travel rush began on Jan 7. It poses a serious test for the country's rural areas, as millions of people will return home for the holiday.

Guidelines have been set to ensure the supply of medicines, the treatment of patients with serious diseases, and the protection of the elderly and children in rural areas.

For instance, 245 small teams have been formed in Anping county of northern China's Hebei province for medical visits to families, covering all 230 villages and 15 communities within the county.

On Saturday, China released its 10th edition of COVID-19 control protocols -- highlighting vaccination and personal protection.

Through optimizing prevention and control measures, China has been injecting vitality into its economy.

The GDP for 2022 is estimated to exceed 120 trillion yuan (about ￥17.52 trillion). The fundamentals for economic resilience, potential, vitality, and long-term growth have not changed.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has weathered waves of mass infections and managed to hold its own during the periods when the novel coronavirus was most rampant. Even when the global Human Development Index dropped for two years straight, China went up six places on this index.

During the early days of 2023, with sounder COVID-19 response measures in effect, domestic demand increased, consumption was boosted, and production resumed rapidly, as consumer service industries recovered and the hustle and bustle of people's lives returned to full swing.

Just as President Xi Jinping said in his 2023 New Year Address: "We have now entered a new phase of COVID response where tough challenges remain. Everyone is holding on with great fortitude, and the light of hope is right in front of us."