The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference on June 19, 2020 in Beijing to introduce Guidelines on Regular Prevention and Control of COVID-19 for Key Locations, Organizations and Population Groups at Low-risk Regions in Summer. [Photo/China.com.cn]
Speakers:
Wang Bin, supervisor of the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control of the National Health Commission (NHC)
Song Yueqian, deputy director of the Department of Health Quarantine of the General Administration of Customs
Shi Xiaoming, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC)
Feng Luzhao, researcher with China CDC
Chairperson:
Hu Qiangqiang, spokesperson and deputy director of the Department of Publicity of the NHC
Date:
June 19, 2020
Hu Qiangqiang:
Friends from the media, good afternoon! Welcome to this press conference held by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council.
To ensure effective regular prevention and control of COVID-19, and to offer guidance to key locations, major organizations and priority population groups, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council has updated Technical Guidelines on Prevention and Control of COVID-19 for Key Locations, Organizations and Population Groups, and developed Guidelines on Regular Prevention and Control of COVID-19 for Key Locations, Organizations and Population Groups at Low-risk Regions in Summer (Revised Edition). During this press conference, we will introduce this topic to you.
We have with us today Ms. Wang Bin, supervisor of the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control of the National Health Commission (NHC); Mr. Song Yueqian, deputy director of the Department of Health Quarantine of the General Administration of Customs; Mr. Shi Xiaoming, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC); and Mr. Feng Luzhao, researcher with China CDC. They will take your questions concerning the newly-revised guidelines.
I'm Hu Qiangqiang, spokesperson and deputy director of the Department of Publicity of the NHC.
First, I'll report on the COVID-19 situation in China.
On June 18, 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 32 new cases of confirmed infections (four inbound cases and 28 domestic ones), two new suspected cases (domestic), but no deaths. Four patients were discharged from hospital after recovering, and 227 people who had been in close contact with infected persons were deemed no longer to need medical observation. The number of serious cases increased by four.
A total of 91 inbound cases were being treated, none of whom were in a severe condition. There remained no suspected cases from abroad. As of June 18, the Chinese mainland reported a total of 1,864 inbound cases and no deaths. In all, 1,773 patients had already been discharged from hospitals after recovery.
According to the figures reported by 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as of midnight on June 18, a total of 293 patients were still being treated, including 13 deemed to be in a serious condition. In all, 78,398 patients have been discharged [since the start of the outbreak] after recovery, and 4,634 people had died of the disease. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland reached 83,325, and seven people were still under observation as potential infections. So far, 755,832 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients, and 5,856 continue to be under medical observation.
On June 18, 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, reported five new asymptomatic cases. Two of these became confirmed cases, four were relieved from further medical observation. As of midnight on June 18, a total of 110 asymptomatic cases were still under medical observation.
As of June 18, a total of 1,615 confirmed cases had been reported in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR and Taiwan, 1,124 in Hong Kong, 45 in Macao, and 446 in Taiwan.
As of June 18, two provincial-level regions had reported new confirmed domestic cases for five consecutive days. The number of serious cases being treated also increased for five days running. A fast rise was also seen in the number of people who had been in close contact with infected patients and thus needing to be placed under medical observation. Challenges still remain during medical treatment and epidemiological investigation. Unremitting efforts must be continued on various fronts to consolidate achievements in epidemic prevention and control, and effectively contain the spread of the virus. Such is the current state of the epidemic.
Now, we will move on to questions. Please raise questions that are based on the theme of today's press conference, and firstly identify your news outlet.
