No new variant strain has been detected, and the national epidemic situation is becoming more stable! The possibility of a new wave of epidemic in the near future is small— —

On February 9, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference. Mi Feng, spokesperson of the National Health Commission, said: Recently, the national epidemic situation has become more stable, and the overall positive trend continues to consolidate. At present, no significant increase in the transmission ability, immune escape ability and pathogenicity of the virus variants has been found in monitoring.

At present, primary and secondary schools in various places have started classes one after another, and spring ploughing in rural areas has begun one after another. We must be cautious and do a good job in epidemic prevention and control, continue to provide health services for key groups such as the elderly, strengthen material support in rural areas, adhere to the grid management of urban and rural communities and towns, and ensure that people at risk are discovered, treated and referred in a timely manner.

We must pay attention to the prevention and control of the epidemic in key places such as shopping malls, supermarkets, and farmers' markets. We must continue to adhere to the prevention and control measures in key institutions such as nursing homes, orphanages, kindergartens, and schools. We must conduct health monitoring of relevant personnel and strengthen personal protection of employees.

Chen Cao, a researcher at the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that according to China's monitoring data, since January 1 this year, China has detected 39 evolutionary branches among inbound passengers from various ports across the country, all of which are Omicron variants, mainly BA.5.2 and BF.7 and their evolutionary branches and sub-branches. So far, we have not detected the spread of new variants with significantly increased transmissibility, pathogenicity, and immune escape capabilities .

Wu Zunyou: A new wave has appeared in recent months

The possibility of a new coronavirus outbreak is relatively small

Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that after the novel coronavirus infection was adjusted from "Class B A Management" to "Class B B Management", the optimized and adjusted prevention and control measures are still effective for timely detection and effective control of the epidemic. Over the past three years, we have conducted scientific research and prudent analysis in response to the ever-changing epidemic situation and the continuous mutation of the virus, and have successively issued ten versions of prevention and control plans and diagnosis and treatment plans, optimizing and adjusting prevention and control measures according to the times and circumstances. From the decisive results achieved in the defense of Wuhan and Hubei, to the successful control of the epidemic caused by the Delta variant, to the fight against the Omicron variant, from the proposal of "early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early treatment", to the realization of all tests, isolation, collection, and treatment, we have avoided the widespread spread of the original strains and Delta strains with strong pathogenicity, and greatly reduced severe illness and death. Compared with three years ago, the pathogenicity of the Omicron strain has been significantly reduced. We have a deeper understanding of the virus, more antiviral drugs to choose from, and our experience in treating COVID-19 with both Chinese and Western medicine has been enriched. Since the implementation of the "Class B and Class B" measures, the epidemic situation in the country has become increasingly stable, and the transition of prevention and control work has been smooth and orderly.

China has just experienced a nationwide epidemic of COVID-19 infection. Most people have recovered, and some are still recovering. During this period, the immune protection of the population across the country is at a high level, so the possibility of a new wave of COVID-19 in recent months is relatively small. The possibility of a large-scale epidemic similar to this one in the future is also relatively small. As China optimizes its prevention and control strategies and measures, the COVID-19 epidemic may occur intermittently in local areas, some populations, and for a period of time in the future. The possibility of a concentrated large-scale epidemic across the country in a short period of time is relatively small.

China CDC: Children and the elderly who have not tested positive

Less likely to get infected again

Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: Children and the elderly who have not tested positive were not infected during the period of national large-scale epidemic, when the risk of infection was very high. Now that the peak of the national large-scale new coronavirus infection epidemic has passed, the risk of infection is low across the country, and the possibility of new coronavirus infection is relatively small.

There are two suggestions for these people: first, continue to take personal protective measures to prevent infection; second, if you have not been vaccinated yet, hurry up to get vaccinated, and if you are suitable for a booster shot, hurry up to get the booster shot.

Ministry of Education: If there is no epidemic risk

Students generally do not delay returning to school

Liu Peijun, deputy director of the Department of Physical Education, Health and Art Education of the Ministry of Education and first-level inspector, introduced that since the beginning of this year, education departments and schools at all levels have conscientiously implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, fully implemented the national "Class B and Class B management" policy requirements, promoted the smooth transition of school epidemic prevention and control, and maintained normal order of education and teaching in schools at all levels and types.

This spring, all regions ushered in the first school season after the "Class B and Class B Management". The return to school is related to the life, study and work of nearly 300 million teachers and students. In order to ensure the smooth opening of schools and the safe return of students, education departments at all levels used the winter vacation "window period" to carry out a series of work deployments to guide schools to make solid preparations for the spring semester:

First, improve the policy system to support epidemic prevention and control for the spring semester. Since the end of last year, the Ministry of Education, together with relevant national departments, has formulated an overall plan for school epidemic prevention and control in accordance with the national "Class B and Class B Management" policy requirements, promulgated school epidemic prevention and control operation guidelines, and released a number of plans for campus epidemic response, coordinating and refining various measures and requirements to make policy preparations for the spring semester this year.

Second, a document was issued to arrange the start of school and clarify the tasks before and after the start of school. Before the Spring Festival, the Ministry of Education issued a notice to arrange the start of school and held a video conference on the prevention and control of the epidemic in the education system across the country. Education departments at all levels guided schools to formulate work plans for the start of school, improve various plans for the start of school and return to school, and do a good job in various tasks before the start of school.

Third, conduct research and supervision to guide the progress of the opening of schools in various places. According to reports from various places, the opening of primary and secondary schools in the spring of this year will be coordinated and arranged by the local education departments, mainly concentrated in early February around the Lantern Festival to the 15th. Colleges and universities will arrange the opening time reasonably according to the actual situation, mainly concentrated in early February around the Lantern Festival to the end of February. At present, education departments at all levels are conducting school opening inspections, guiding and urging schools to ensure that preparations for the opening of the school are in place in time and to ensure campus safety in the spring semester.

Fourth, strengthen departmental coordination and enhance the school's ability to prevent and control the epidemic. The education department will work with the health and disease control departments to strengthen the construction of primary and secondary school health rooms, health rooms, university hospitals, and health stations, and strengthen professional forces. Carry out health monitoring of teachers and students before and after the start of school, establish a health record for all teachers and students, and follow up to provide good health services. The education department will also work with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments to support schools in stockpiling sufficient and applicable new coronavirus infection symptomatic treatment drugs, masks, antigen detection reagents and other epidemic prevention materials in accordance with standards, and make material preparations for the spring semester.

Fifth, organize special training to improve the school's epidemic prevention technology level. In January, the Ministry of Education held a nationwide school epidemic prevention capacity improvement training, and local education departments at all levels also carried out relevant technical training to help primary, secondary and university school leaders, medical and epidemic prevention personnel, school mental health teachers, primary and secondary school class teachers, and college counselors understand the policies, understand the situation, master the technology, and improve the school's ability to respond to the epidemic and emergency management.

After the spring semester starts, the education department will continue to work with relevant departments to provide classified guidance to universities, primary and secondary schools, and childcare institutions to fully implement the national epidemic prevention and control policies, smoothly transition the school epidemic prevention and control, effectively restore the normal education and teaching order of schools, promptly respond to the concerns of teachers and students returning to school, and continuously ensure the health of teachers and students and the safety and stability of the campus.

Liu Peijun said that overall, the current national epidemic situation is generally stable, the school epidemic prevention and control policies have been clarified, and preparations for the start of school in various places are basically in place. This spring, schools across the country can achieve scheduled, normal and safe start of school. Unless there are special circumstances, schools generally do not start early; if there is no epidemic risk, students generally do not delay returning to school.

Source: Press conference of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, WeChat official account of Beijing Radio and Television