China highlights surveillance and prevention for new COVID protocol

China has highlighted regular surveillance and precautions of the novel coronavirus infection, as well as a rollout of emergency measures to flatten infection peaks in its latest COVID-19 disease control protocol, a public health expert said on Saturday.

The State Council released the 10th COVID-19 prevention and control protocol on Saturday as management of the disease will be downgraded from Class A to Class B on Sunday.

Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said during an interview that the monitoring of key populations, key venues and industry sectors, rural areas, as well as facilities that see large gatherings such as supermarkets and exhibition centers will be given great significance following the downgrade.

In order to mitigate large outbreaks and prevent the overstretching hospitals, Wang said the new document also lays out a series of non-pharmaceutical measures, such as suspending large events, cap the upper limit of visitors to museums and sealing off elderly care homes.

Wang said all measures have reflected China's shift from preventing infections to safeguarding health and preventing severe cases.