Notice on Strictly Preventing the Transmission of Pneumonia from Novel Coronavirus Infection Through Vehicular Transportation

Time of Release: 2020-01-24

Source: Bureau of Epidemic Prevention and Control

Pneumonia Mechanism (2020) No. 2

To the Working Mechanism for the Joint Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic for each province, autonomous region, and directly-governed municipality:
With the approval of the State Council, the novel coronavirus pneumonia is included in the "P.R.C. Methods for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases" as a class B illness, class A prevention and control measures are to be employed, and it is included in quarantinable infectious disease management as provided for in the "P.R.C. Frontier Health and Quarantine Law". In order to prevent the transmission and spread of novel coronavirus pneuomonia through transportation, to protect the health of the people, and to preserve the normal order of production, life, and transportation, on the basis of relevant laws and regulations, notice of requirements related to the strict prevention of the transmission of novel coronavirus pneumonia through transportation are hereby announced.

I. All levels of local people's governments and all levels and types of departments (unit) of health, public safety, transport, customs, border control, civil aviation, rail, and so forth, should pay close attention to the issue of the possible transmission of novel coronavirus pneumonia through transportation, and under the guidance of the joint prevention and control mechanism, should strengthen organization and leadership, closely coordinate and cooperate with each other, clear communication channels, and combine forces to truly reduce the risk of novel coronavirus pneumonia being spread through transportation and prevent the spread of the epidemic as much as possible.

II. The people's governments of each province, autonomous region, and directly-governed municipality should coordinate relevant departments (units) such as for health, public security, transport, civil aviation, and rail to strictly implement measures to prevent and control the novel coronavirus pneumonia, establishing quarantine stations and alloting the necessary personnel, equipment, and conditions, and drafting quarantine plans. Quarantine stations are responsible for conducting quarantined observation and isolated treatment of patients and suspected patients with the novel coronavirus pneumonia that are discovered on vehicles, and must not refuse to accept them.

III. Each local department (unit) for transport, civil aviation, rail, and so forth, should draft an emergency response plan for the novel coronavirus pneumonia. After cases or suspected cases are discovered aboard transportation such as trains, cars, planes, and boats, the station, port, or destination airport in the next city with a quarantine station should be immediately contacted to make preparations for quarantine. At the same time, urge transport businesses to immediately employ measures such as isolation, ventilation, and disinfection aboard the vehicles, and obtain information on passengers in the same cabin or car as the case or others who had close contact, either through the real-name ticket purchases or investigation, and provide it to the health departments, fully cooperating with efforts to conduct infectious disease investigations and necessary medical inspections.

IV. The health departments for the location of quarantine stations should carry out training of medical care personnel, and earnestly carry out efforts such as observation of cases and suspected cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia in quarantine, isolated treatment, and follow-up management. The national and provincial health departments are responsible for providing technical support and guidance to each region and relevant department.

V. Each local department (unit) for transport, civil aviation, rail, and so forth should carry out health management efforts in vehicles such as cars, trains, and planes, and key venues such as stations, airports, and passenger ports, alloting necessary protective and disinfectant supplies, and carrying out measures to prevent infection such as ventilartion and disinfection based on local conditions. Customs should carry out health quarantine for vehicles such as aircraft, boats, trains, and cars entering and exiting the country, to prevent the flow of the epidemic in and out. Where cases or suspected cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia are discovered, immediately transport them to the medical establishment designated by the local health departments, investigate persons with close contact, and report relevant information to the local health departments. Border control organs should cooperate with customs in their work, tightening immigration inspections of entering and exiting vehicles and persons to assist in the completion of prevention and control efforts.

VI. In accordance with local government requirements, each local department (unit) for transport, civil aviation, rail, and so forth should strictly implement prevention and control measures such as passenger body temperature screening in venues such as airports, train stations, and passenger ports, emphasizing strengthening the testing of persons coming from Wuhan and establishing a health card system, registering relevant health card information and contact information, doing a good job of giving health care reminders to promptly see a doctor after symptoms such as fever and coughing manifest. As soon as a case or suspected case of novel coronavirus pneumonia is discovered, they shall be discouraged from boarding and the quarantine organs or local health department should be promptly notified. Health departments should strengthen guidance of the epidemic prevention work at key venues such as local airports, transport stations, and passenger ports.

VII. Each local department (unit) for public security, transport, customs, border control, civil aviation, rail, and so forth, should actively cooperate with health departments in carrying out related investigation work, assisting in finding new coronavirus pneumonia cases, suspected cases, and those in close contact, who need to be followed-up with.

VIII. Each local department (unit) for public security, transport, customs, border control, civil aviation, rail, and so forth, should have publicity and education on prevention and control of pneumonia from the novel coronavirus for travelers and staff of the respective systems, to strengthen their awareness and capacity for protection. Masks should be given to be worn by employees directly serving customers.

IX. The people's government of each province, autonomous region, and directly-governed municipality should ensure the supply of protection and disinfectant supplies, and publicly announce the location and contact information of quarantine stations that have been established for cases and suspected cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia, and are to carry out oversight and inspections of the quarantine stations.

Working Mechanism for the Joint Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemic

January 23, 2020

(Information disclosure type: Proactive Disclosure)