China enhances lab testing capability for COVID-19, particularly in border regions

BEIJING -- China has pledged to further enhance lab testing capability for COVID-19 and give priority to land border areas in the support amid efforts to guard against any surge of imported cases or relapse into a domestic outbreak.

The country also vowed to ensure that COVID-19 tests are available in county-level regions, said a circular released by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against the coronavirus.

The circular asked localities to make response plans and drills for possible outbreaks based on local conditions to improve preparedness for epidemic control and patient treatment.

Local authorities should support medical facilities in building and managing fever clinics and ensure that all tests and treatments for feverish patients are finished in the clinics to avoid cross infections, it added.

While encouraging online medical services and doctor visits by appointment to limit gatherings in hospitals, the circular also pledged support in terms of funding, manpower and medical supplies to keep frontline medical professionals safe.