Chinese Health Authorities Warn of Possible COVID-19 Resurgence During Chunje Period

Call for Measures to Strengthen Medical Services and Other Responses

Chinese health authorities have warned that the COVID-19 virus could resurge around the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) holiday (from the 10th to the 17th). To respond to this, the authorities emphasized the need to open outpatient clinics and ensure services in emergency rooms, pediatrics, and respiratory clinics.

On the 4th, the National Health Commission of China stated that although the current level of COVID-19 epidemic spread is low, positive cases have been increasing recently. They noted that due to high population movement between regions and crowded gatherings during the Spring Festival, the number of COVID-19 patients may increase around this period.

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Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission, said at a press conference held that day, "The current situation is due to pre-Spring Festival travel, the boom in cross-regional tourism between the north and south, and increased overseas tourism." He explained, "Large-scale movement and gatherings make respiratory diseases more likely to accelerate, and the situation will likely maintain a certain level before and after the Spring Festival."

Although specific figures such as the trend in the number of COVID-19 patients were not disclosed, the authorities added, "China's acute respiratory disease situation peaked in early December last year, has decreased for two consecutive weeks, and continues to decline over the past three weeks."

Li Tongzheng, an infectious disease specialist at Beijing Yuan Hospital, explained to Global Times that "Influenza B ranks highest in hospitals, with COVID-19 in second place." He warned, "Currently, elderly people still experience severe symptoms of COVID-19 infection, and depending on the individual, there is a high risk of progressing to severe illness."

Accordingly, the National Health Commission announced that as part of special measures for epidemic prevention and control around the Spring Festival, emergency response obligations for epidemics must be strengthened, and health resources and professional personnel should be coordinated and dispatched. Local authorities were urged to operate the '120' hotline 24 hours a day and ensure that all medical institutions can provide smooth emergency treatment.

During the holiday period, hospitals and healthcare institutions will be fully open and must be equipped with fever clinics and consultation rooms. Furthermore, key departments such as emergency rooms, pediatrics, and respiratory units should be prepared to operate normally and ensure medical services.

Dr. Li advised, "If symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat appear during the Spring Festival, one should not visit relatives' homes or attend gatherings." Instead, "immediate rest should be taken, and long-distance travel should be avoided."