The National Health Commission held a video conference to comprehensively deploy COVID-19 prevention and control efforts for the winter and spring seasons.

The meeting emphasized that the epidemic prevention and control situation this winter and next spring remains severe and complex, with daunting and heavy tasks ahead. The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to this matter. All cadres and employees across the system must earnestly study and thoroughly understand the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, resolutely overcome complacency, war-weariness, a lucky mindset, and any tendency toward slackening, strictly implement the measures for “preventing imported cases and preventing resurgence within the country,” firmly safeguard the line of defense against COVID-19 during winter and spring, consolidate the hard‑won achievements in epidemic prevention and control, build a reliable public health safety barrier for the people, and provide strong support for high‑quality economic and social development.

The meeting called for focusing on strengthening work in five key areas, taking into account recent issues identified in epidemic prevention and control efforts as well as inspection and supervision.

First, strengthen epidemic monitoring and information reporting. Appropriately expand the scope of “testing all who should be tested” for nucleic acid testing, increase the frequency of regular testing, and ensure thorough screening, reporting, and referral of cases at fever clinics. When an outbreak is detected, it must be reported truthfully and in accordance with the law and relevant regulations.

Second, we will strengthen the joint prevention of people and goods to prevent imported cases. For inbound travelers at air ports, strengthen professional and technical training for quarantine service personnel, strictly standardize service delivery, and enhance closed-loop management for pick-up, transfer, and home observation. For land ports, intensify efforts to identify and control individuals entering illegally, and reinforce personal protective measures for high‑risk groups.

Third, strengthen hospital infection control. Leading officials in charge of Party and government affairs at medical institutions must take personal responsibility for strengthening prevention and control mechanisms, assign dedicated teams to oversee these efforts, and conduct regular inspections. Existing designated hospitals and fever clinics should be reassessed; those that fail to meet the required standards must be resolutely discontinued or promptly upgraded and brought into compliance, with adequate equipment and staffing fully in place, and strict adherence to closed-loop management protocols for febrile patients. A support mechanism should be established to provide personnel and equipment assistance to large comprehensive hospitals.

Fourth, strengthen emergency response to clustered outbreaks. Strictly implement the five key measures for handling clustered outbreaks. At the same time, medical institutions should ensure that nucleic acid testing is conducted on all individuals who should be tested—whether they are undergoing routine outpatient (emergency) visits or hospitalizations—and fully leverage the role of third-party nucleic acid testing agencies to guarantee timely reporting of test results. We will improve the emergency response mechanism characterized by “local jurisdiction-based management, regional collaboration, and efficient coordination,” organize practical drills, and strengthen training in disease control, medical care, testing, and epidemiological investigation. Great importance must be attached to and efforts must be intensified in epidemiological investigation and source tracing.

Fifth, strengthen epidemic prevention and control before and after the Spring Festival holiday. Continue to implement the effective prevention and control measures that were in place during last year’s Spring Festival and this year’s “May Day” and “National Day” holidays, reducing population mobility, minimizing travel risks, limiting gatherings, and strengthening personal protection. Take targeted measures to prevent outbreaks and the spread of the epidemic in rural areas.

The Health Commissions of Shanghai Municipality, Yunnan Province, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region delivered exchange speeches at the conference. Leading officials from the Party Leadership Group of the National Health Commission, as well as heads of various departments and bureaus within the Commission’s headquarters, the Commission’s Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Commission, relevant directly affiliated units, and hospitals under the Commission’s jurisdiction located in Beijing, attended the meeting at the main venue. Leading officials from the Health Commissions of all provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities), separately planned cities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, along with heads of provincial-level disease control agencies, hospitals under the Commission’s jurisdiction located outside Beijing, tertiary general hospitals in provincial capitals and separately planned cities, and children’s hospitals, participated in the meeting at the sub‑venues.