China News Agency, Beijing, December 27th. Starting from January 8, 2023, China will adjust the new crown virus infection from "Class B and A tubes" to "Class B and B tubes".
Are there conditions for adjustment?
What responsibilities will medical institutions assume?
How to prevent possible risks?
The joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council of China invited many experts to give authoritative interpretation.
Do you have the basic conditions for adjustment?
Liang Wannian, head of the expert group of the National Health Commission's New Crown Epidemic Response and Disposal Leading Group, said that to adjust infectious diseases from "Class B and A" to "B and B", relevant conditions must be met.
Under the premise of law, based on the understanding of the nature and harmfulness of pathogens and diseases, based on the immunity of the population and the resistance of the health and health system, and based on the current situation and future trend of the epidemic situation, the wisdom of experts is gathered, and domestic and foreign experience are used for comprehensive consideration. A variety of factors can make a decision.
Liang Wannian said that from the perspective of legal basis, when an infectious disease may cause serious harm to the human health and life safety of citizens, and may cause major economic losses and social impacts, the state can take high-intensity intervention measures against citizens and society.
"However, when the hazards of infectious diseases to human health and life safety are weakened, and the impact on the economy and society is reduced, the state should dynamically adjust the intensity of intervention measures to ensure that infectious disease prevention and control measures are optimized and adjusted according to the time and situation."
Liang Wannian pointed out that the adjustment of the new crown virus infection from "Class B and A" to "B and B" is a decision made by gathering the wisdom of experts, drawing on domestic and foreign experience, and comprehensively considering various factors.
At present, human beings have further deepened their understanding of the new coronavirus and diseases, the reduction of the hazards of diseases, the effective supply of vaccines and drugs, and the improvement of emergency response capabilities have all created conditions for this adjustment.
The anti-epidemic work in the past three years has also laid a solid foundation for adjustment.
What responsibilities will medical institutions assume?
Jiao Yahui, director of the Department of Medical Affairs of the National Health and Medical Commission, said that after the "Class B and B control", medical institutions at all levels and types must admit nucleic acid-positive patients, and adopt grading and classification according to the patient's diagnosis and treatment needs.
Medical institutions no longer triage patients based on negative or positive nucleic acid, but seek medical treatment according to the patient's diagnosis and treatment needs.
"We put more emphasis on the positive role of the urban and rural three-level medical and health service network, and require medical institutions to implement their own functional positioning." Jiao Yahui said that simple asymptomatic infections of the new crown and mild cases should be isolated at home or self-care at home.
Infected persons with stable conditions, such as ordinary cases, are referred to sub-designated hospitals for treatment.
Severe and critical cases with COVID-19 as the main manifestation should be referred to designated hospitals for treatment.
Severe and critical cases mainly caused by other diseases, and other patients who need to go to the hospital for treatment, regardless of whether the nucleic acid is positive or not, can go to the corresponding general hospital or specialized hospital for treatment.
"We require medical institutions to strictly implement the first-diagnosis responsibility system and the emergency and critical care system, and not to shirk or refuse medical treatment for patients infected with the new coronavirus for any reason, so as to meet the medical needs of patients." Jiao Yahui pointed out.
How to prevent possible risks after adjustment?
According to Lei Zhenglong, director of the Communication and Prevention Department of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, the return of the new coronavirus infection from "Class B and A tubes" to "Class B and B tubes" may face risks in three aspects.
First, after the adjustment, due to the lack of isolation measures for the source of infection and close contacts, the infection rate of the new coronavirus may show a rapid upward trend.
Second, the sharp increase in the number of people infected with the new coronavirus in a short period of time will significantly increase the demand for medical treatment. At the same time, the infection of medical staff will lead to a decrease in the supply of medical services. Therefore, in the initial stage of adjustment, some areas may experience relatively insufficient medical resources.
The third is that in the initial stage of adjustment, some people may feel anxious about the rapid rise of the new crown epidemic, and worry about the health hazards of the new crown infection.
Lei Zhenglong also said that to this end, measures such as strengthening health education, optimizing the allocation of medical and health resources, and strengthening drug supply guarantees will be taken to effectively prevent possible risks and ensure the smooth implementation of the "Class B and B Control" of new crown virus infection.
Talking about how to effectively protect vulnerable groups, Xu Wenbo, director of the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also said that those who meet the vaccination requirements should complete the full vaccination and booster vaccination as soon as possible.
Especially for people over 60 years old, those with underlying diseases and other high-risk groups with severe illnesses, it is extremely important to protect their own health that they should receive them as often as possible and receive them early.
(use up)