BEIJING, Apr.2 (Xinhua) -- China's unprecedented move of putting Wuhan under lockdown raised doubts but was proved to be the right call for fighting COVID-19.
In the meantime, all other Chinese provinces, cities and regions had acted quickly under the country's guidance of taking targeted measures based on specific conditions.
Such locally implemented measures speak for the decisive and innovative responses on the frontline, with some examples listed below to evoke further insight into winning a battle with collective yet differentiated wisdom and characteristics woven as a whole net.
Zhejiang responses fast with top-level emergency activated
There are many Zhejiang people doing business, studying and working in Wuhan, the epicenter of China's COVID-19 outbreak. Among them, Zhejiang businessmen alone total hundreds of thousands. In recent years, Zhejiang and Hubei have seen increasing ties in terms of labor cooperation and personnel exchanges. Moreover, the huge wave of travel due to the Spring Festival holiday when the epidemic broke out cast various uncertainties and uncontrollable factors for prevention and control work.
In response, Zhejiang government quickly established a collective consultation, study and judgment mechanism functioning on a daily basis, entering a "wartime state” featuring flat decision-making. Prevention and control are designed to be conducted in detailed, quantitative and closed-loop manner which proved effective in practice.
Zhejiang activated the first-level emergency response against novel coronavirus early on January 23 and demanded ten most stringent measures to contain the spread of the disease:
The strictest and full screening.
All territory units accountable for preventive measures for eliminating risks at the source.
An indicator system where "big data + grid" method comes into full play for targeted screening of all relevant people in a bid to detect and cut off the source of infection.
The most decisive isolation, observation and protective measures
Enhanced isolation measures for suspected cases and close contacts.
Detailed work especially for epidemic hard-hit areas. Decisive quarantine, isolation or lockdown measures when needed.
Cut public gatherings to minimum
Halt all public gatherings with risks of cross-infection.
The most stringent epidemic surveillance and testing
Strict control over vehicles and persons at inter-provincial border areas.
Body temperature screening fully conducted at airports, docks, railway stations, and bus stations.
Strict testing for vehicles and passengers entering Zhejiang.
The most effective medical treatment
Medical facilities where a confirmed patient is admitted and diagnosed is held accountable for treating.
Go all-out for treating patients by pooling designated hospitals, excellent experts, as well as effective drugs and equipments.
Ensure medics' safety by the most thorough protection measures
Detailed measures for preventing cross-infection in hospitals.
The strictest mechanism for epidemic report, information release and public opinion response
Information on epidemic status and relevant prevention and control efforts released in open and transparent manner, public doubts and social concerns responded timely with scientific evidences and info updates.
The most rapid technological breakthroughs
Mobilize all scientific research institutions across the province for drug and vaccine R&D while strengthen epidemiological investigation.
The most adequate supplies and resources in place
Set up designated hospitals and backup hospitals.
All-round preparation of medical supplies such as negative pressure ambulances, negative pressure wards, drugs, sterilizers, testing kits, medical instruments, and protective gears.
The most thorough publicity, education and professional training
Jiangsu: Grid-based community workers power up grassroots coronavirus fight
East China's Jiangsu Province has mobilized 300,000 grid-based community workers to participate in epidemic prevention and control work since Spring Festival.
Baodong community of Jiangsu's Yixing city broke the community down to 13 grids, and conducted prevention and control work through door-to-door screening, phone calls, SMS texting, and WeChat groups, according to Xu Shuangxi, party general secretary with the community, adding that a full screening will be applied to personnel who had returned from hard-hit areas. These community workers bridge, bind and net the whole community and act as epidemic prevention guards for all, he said.
Wuzhong district of Jiangsu's Suzhou city were understaffed in terms of temperature checks at its five expressway entrances and exits, but the problem was solved by "Blue Bird" volunteers, made up of grid-based workers, to assist the public security and transportation departments after professional training, said Wu Bin, an official with Wuzhong district.
Fan Yibing, director of the health service center in Leyu Town, Zhangjiagang City, said the town implemented responsibility system and sending out cards printed with names and telephone numbers of village cadres, grid-based workers, as well as community police and doctors. The personnel under quarantine can contact the corresponding contact person on the card at any time if they need something or feel unwell.
China has adopted grid-based management for populated communities and neighborhoods. Across China, millions of grid-based community workers are safeguarding a total of 650,000 urban and rural communities.
Besides conducting daily quarantine checks and publicizing prevention and control knowledge, these grid-based community workers are more often multitasking among stewards, purchasing agents, delivery workers, barefoot doctors and psychologists, doing their utmost to keep the virus out of their "territories."
Henan presents rural example for epidemic fight
Neighboring Hubei, central China's Henan province has a large rural population, and many migrant workers returned to their hometown during the Spring Festival holiday, presenting a much difficult task in epidemic prevention and control.
In order to curb the spread of the virus in local rural areas, a war without smoke was declared against the epidemic with a string of seemingly "outdated" measures adopted by locals.
Through a joint prevention and control mechanism extending from province, city, county, township to village, a comprehensive network to prevent and control the epidemic reach far and deep to rural areas across the province. These rural areas in central China are beefing up China's grassroots coronavirus fight.
Local villages use loudspeakers to publicize information and knowledge, holding individual regions accountable for epidemic prevention and control. Prevention and control measures are full of local characteristics with striking red slogans hung at the entrance of many villages in Henan, raising awareness and advise returnees not to come back home at this moment. Patrol vehicles are also seen loudspeaking prevention and control requirements.
Luyi County of Henan organized medical workers and cadres in towns and villages to check and register the detailed information of migrant workers and college students returning to their hometowns. The physical condition of registrants is also closely monitored. People with suspected symptoms will be sent to the designated hospital for isolation and treatment.
(Edited by Niu Huizhe and Wu Shuang with Xinhua Silk Road, niuhuizhe@xinhua.org)
A single purchase
