Clinics, hospitals should only close if necessary, official says

Fever clinics should be open around the clock despite the COVID-19 epidemic, said Guo Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission, at a news conference on Tuesday.

Hospitals should publicize the addresses and telephone numbers of their fever clinics for potential patients.

If any patient with a fever is found to be infected with the virus, they should be transferred to designated hospitals for isolation treatment, Guo said.

In areas where the epidemic spreads, hospitals should not close, especially emergency departments, dialysis rooms, operation rooms, delivery rooms and intensive care units, she said.

If hospitals need to close for epidemic prevention and control purposes, the closures should be announced through local media and hospitals' WeChat accounts, Guo said.

As soon as their lockdowns are lifted, the hospitals should resume offering diagnosis and treatment services, she said.