China Classifies Novel Coronavirus as Statutory Infectious Disease... Highest Level Measures Implemented

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Chinese health authorities have classified the novel coronavirus as a legally designated infectious disease (an infectious disease stipulated in the Infectious Disease Prevention Act).

On the 21st, the National Health Commission of China (NHC) announced through its website the issuance of the "2020 No. 1" document, stating that with the approval of the State Council, the novel coronavirus pneumonia infection is included in the "Infectious Disease Prevention Act of the People's Republic of China" and classified as a Class B infectious disease. Although classified as Class B, the response measures will follow the strictest Class A infectious disease prevention and control measures.

China broadly classifies legally designated infectious diseases into three categories: Class A, B, and C. Class A infectious diseases include plague and cholera; Class B includes SARS, AIDS, and highly pathogenic avian influenza transmissible to humans; Class C includes epidemic influenza and rubella.

Once the novel coronavirus is classified as a legally designated infectious disease, all levels of people's governments, health and wellness departments, other administrative departments, and medical and health institutions can legally isolate and treat patients and implement control measures for close contacts. In particular, since the novel coronavirus is stipulated to follow Class A infectious disease prevention and control measures, infection situations nationwide must be reported and monitored within two hours.

A Wuhan NHC official stated, "In accordance with the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, patients are being isolated and treated, and suspected patients are also being singly isolated and treated at designated locations before confirmation."