Epidemic Information

COVID-19 Prevention and Control Guidelines (Eighth Edition)

• I. General Requirements

  Guided by the principles of "prevention first, combined prevention and control, science-based and law-based approaches, and tiered and classified management," these guidelines aim to integrate normalized precision control with localized emergency response. In line with the requirements of managing COVID-19 as a Class B infectious disease under Class A management measures, the guidelines emphasize "early detection, rapid response, precise control, and effective treatment" to resolutely prevent imported cases from overseas and domestic outbreaks. Implementing the "five early" measures—early prevention, early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early treatment—and adhering to "joint prevention of human and material transmission," these guidelines strengthen control in key periods, regions, and populations to detect sporadic and clustered cases promptly, ensuring scientific, precise, and effective epidemic control.

  II. Etiological and Epidemiological Characteristics

  The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the β genus of coronaviruses, sensitive to ultraviolet light and heat. It can be effectively inactivated by ether, 75% ethanol, chlorine-containing disinfectants, peracetic acid, and chloroform (lipid solvents). The incubation period is 1–14 days (typically 3–7 days), with peak infectivity 1–2 days before symptom onset and in the early stages of illness. Primary sources of infection are confirmed COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic carriers. Transmission occurs mainly via respiratory droplets and close contact; contact with contaminated objects and aerosol transmission in enclosed environments with high viral concentration are also possible. As the virus has been isolated from feces and urine, precautions against environmental contamination (contact or aerosol transmission) are necessary. Genomic mutations during circulation may increase transmissibility, though impacts on pathogenicity and vaccine efficacy require further study.

  III. Public Health Measures

  (1) Health Education

  Leveraging new media (internet, social media, apps) and traditional media (radio, TV, newspapers), comprehensive COVID-19 prevention education will be promoted, emphasizing individual responsibility for health. Key messages include handwashing, mask-wearing, ventilation, use of serving chopsticks, maintaining social distance, and cough etiquette. The public is advised to reduce non-essential travel and gatherings, and avoid large-scale events like banquets. Frontline 防控 personnel will receive training to implement measures scientifically and guide public behavior, referring to Annex 1: Basic Code of Conduct for Civilian COVID-19 Prevention.

  (2) Vaccination

  1. High-risk groups: Priority vaccination for individuals aged ≥18 years in occupations with high exposure risk (e.g., healthcare workers, quarantine staff), those at risk of overseas infection, and key workers maintaining social operations.
  2. High-transmission-risk groups: Vaccination for residents in key regions (e.g., border ports), service industries, labor-intensive sectors, university students, and school staff, with voluntary vaccination for other willing individuals aged ≥18 years.
  3. Vaccination strategy: Updated based on vaccine research and clinical trial results.

  (3) Patriotic Health Campaign

  Promoting disease prevention through environmental sanitation improvements in rural areas, urban-rural junctions, and public venues. Advocating healthy, green, and eco-friendly lifestyles, with health education and dietary guidelines. Mobilizing communities, villages, families, schools, enterprises, and government agencies to participate in patriotic health initiatives, integrating health into all policies.

  IV. Epidemic Surveillance

  (1) Case Detection and Reporting

  1. Symptomatic case reporting: Healthcare facilities monitor for fever, 干咳，乏力，sore throat, olfactory/gustatory loss, and diarrhea. Suspected cases undergo immediate testing, with network reporting within 2 hours. Primary healthcare providers (community clinics, village health stations) report suspected cases to higher-level facilities within 2 hours, following the "village reporting, township sampling, county testing" strategy.
  2. Asymptomatic carrier reporting: Identified through nucleic acid testing of close contacts, imported cases, high-risk workers, and screening. Reported within 2 hours, transferred to designated hospitals for centralized isolation, and reclassified as confirmed cases if symptoms develop within 24 hours.
  3. Clustered outbreak reporting: Defined as ≥5 cases/asymptomatic carriers in schools, residential areas, factories, or medical institutions within 14 days. Reported via the system within 2 hours.

  (2) Multi-channel Monitoring and Early Warning

  1. Healthcare facility monitoring: Mandatory nucleic acid testing for all febrile patients, suspected cases, severe acute respiratory infection inpatients, and new admissions/visitors.
  2. High-risk occupation monitoring: Weekly nucleic acid testing for workers in imported cold-chain food, quarantine facilities, port logistics, healthcare, international transportation, and customs. Sampling for workers in markets, delivery services, and transportation.
  3. Key population monitoring: Health monitoring for individuals from medium/high-risk areas, recovered patients, with immediate testing for symptomatic individuals.
  4. Goods and environment monitoring: Regular sampling of imported cold-chain food/environments, high-risk non-cold-chain goods from epidemic areas, and sewage in cold-chain markets.
  5. Key institution monitoring: Daily health checks in nursing homes, schools, and crowded workplaces during local outbreaks.
  6. Genomic sequencing: Conducted for early cases, imported cases, and genetically unique strains to track mutations and transmission sources.

  V. Epidemic Response

  Upon outbreak detection, activate emergency command systems, classify risk levels by subdistrict/township, and implement tiered control. Low-risk areas maintain normalized control；medium/high-risk areas adopt strict measures like gathering restrictions and traffic control.

  (1) Source Control

  • Confirmed cases: Transferred to designated hospitals within 2 hours; 14-day post-discharge isolation. Re-positive cases with symptoms are reclassified as confirmed; asymptomatic re-positive cases are managed as asymptomatic carriers.
  • Suspected cases: Isolated in single rooms; excluded if two negative PCR tests (≥24-hour interval) and negative IgM/IgG 7 days after onset (vaccinated individuals excluded via serology).
  • Asymptomatic carriers: 14-day centralized isolation; discharged with two negative PCR tests. Post-isolation: 14-day home monitoring with follow-up tests at 2 and 4 weeks.

  (2) Epidemiological Investigation and Tracing

  Conducted by county-level  within 24 hours, defining control zones (e.g., buildings, villages) based on risk assessment. Utilize technology for efficient tracing, with results reported promptly (Annex 3).

  (3) Close Contact Management

  • Close contacts: 14-day centralized isolation with PCR tests on days 1, 4, 7, and 14; 7-day home health monitoring post-release with tests on days 2 and 7.
  • Close contacts of close contacts: Released on day 7 if primary contacts test negative twice; managed as close contacts if primary contacts test positive (Annex 4).

  (4) Targeted Nucleic Acid Testing

  Expanded testing based on risk assessment, using single-sample (1:1) or pooled (5:1, 10:1) methods, with results within 12 hours.

  (5) Transportation

  Dedicated vehicles for transferring cases/close contacts within specified timeframes, with strict infection control (Annex 5).

  VI. Laboratory Testing

  Specimens should be collected promptly, with results  within 12 hours. Asymptomatic carriers, and close contacts undergo nasopharyngeal swab testing during isolation; discharge requires two negative tests from different labs using different reagents (Annex 10).

  VII. Imported Case Prevention

  Implement "joint prevention of human and material transmission," with 14-day centralized isolation. Eligible individuals may opt for "7+7" isolation (7 days centralized + 7 days home monitoring) if conditions permit. Strict testing and disinfection for imported cold-chain goods, with health monitoring for frontline workers (Annex 11).

  VIII. Key Area Prevention

  • High-risk groups: Emphasize personal 防护，health monitoring, and vaccination.
  • Key institutions: Strengthen internal controls, disinfection, and ventilation; healthcare facilities enforce 预检分诊 and 发热门诊 protocols.
  • Crowded venues: Implement ventilation, disinfection, and capacity limits; adjust operations during outbreaks.
  • Cold-chain facilities: Risk assessment, environmental sanitation, and worker health monitoring (Annex 12).

  IX. Organizational Support

  • Command system: Local governments coordinate multi-departmental efforts, maintaining 24/7 readiness and emergency activation.
  • Information integration: Centralize data for real-time risk assessment and resource allocation.
  • Capacity building: Stockpile personnel, testing capabilities, isolation facilities, and supplies; conduct regular drills.
  • Logistics support: Ensure medical and civilian supply chains, with unimpeded transportation for emergency goods.
  • Supervision: Regular inspections to address gaps, avoiding excessive control measures.
  
  
  These guidelines, supported by 12 annexes covering prevention, testing, isolation, and international input control，aim to provide comprehensive, science-based guidance for normalized COVID-19 management, emphasizing precision, coordination, and rapid response to protect public health.
  
  
  Source: National Health Commission of China, COVID-19 Prevention and Control Guidelines (Eighth Edition).
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