China to strengthen COVID-19 infection control in medical institutions

China has released a circular requiring strengthened infection control in medical institutions and better implementing of the epidemic prevention and control work on a regular basis.

Medical institutions are urged to enforce management requirements of fever clinics, and all medics working in the fever clinics should be familiar with the diagnosis and treatment plan for COVID-19 while strengthening personal protection, said the circular issued by a working group of the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against the coronavirus.

The capability of nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 should be improved in medical institutions, said the circular, adding that people including patients in fever clinics, suspected COVID-19 patients in outpatient and emergency departments and medical workers should be given a nucleic acid test to enable prompt detection of the risk of in-hospital infections.

It also stressed the importance of tightening management work of hospital admission and accompaniment and visiting for patients.