Chongqing- The Notice about strengthening the epidemic prevention and control in rural areas of Chongqing was issued by local authorities, according to a press conference held by the Information Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government on January 19.

The Notice pointed out that the Spring Festival is a critical period for epidemic prevention and control. Therefore, there are seven musts of epidemic prevention and control in rural areas, including the prohibition of casual drinking, the minimization for marriages and funerals, the strict management of report to the outbreak, the enhancement of the epidemic prevention and control on high-risk groups, the cleaning-up in rural areas, the establishment of the quick response system and the responsibilities which government authorities take.

Rural areas

The Notice requires that, there must be a prohibition of casual drinking. It is also advocated that weddings and funerals should be held as simple as they can, with civilized manners in rural areas.

For necessary weddings or other banquets, the hosts should inform the community directors five days in advance while obtaining the approval. For the agency of banquets, the caterers must inform the local marketing supervision department in time based on factual information, while signing the Food Safety Responsibility Letter accordingly.

Furthermore, The catering enterprises must also log in "Yusuyuan", an online platform for tracing imported cold-chain food, to input the relevant trading information if they purchase any imported cold-chain food.

High-risk groups in rural areas

The Notice said that it is necessary to persuade migrant workers in high-risk areas not to return to their hometowns during the Spring Festival. For migrant workers who must return, the local governments should urge the towns and communities to implement rural grid management.

More importantly, It is a must for collecting information on returned people and their whereabouts. Returned people must be checked-up within 14 days, and they must inform the committees if any fever and cough symptom appears. The local governments must conduct examination to them immediately, and report on any of their abnormal conditions if needed.

The Notice also requires that, the local governments must urge the towns and communities to clean up and disinfect the farmer’s market, including public toilets, sanitation facilities, farms, residential houses and etc. Household garbage should be disinfected and transported for centralized handling.

In addition, it is also necessary to urge hospitals and clinics to strengthen monitoring the epidemic conditions on patients with respiratory symptoms.

(Fu Xiaoduo, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)