Some Western countries have loosened (放松) their pandemic measures. It was because they think that Omicron—the dominant variant (变异毒株) in China's latest COVID-19 outbreak—has become milder (轻微的).
Liang Wannian, head of the National Health Commission's COVID-19 leading task force, said that for the time being, China needs to stick with the policy of continued vaccination (接种疫苗), targeted (精准的) epidemic control and dynamic zero-COVID.
"If there are a large number of people infected (感染的), the number of severe (危重的) cases and deaths in the population as a whole will be high. " Liang stated the reason as above.
On March 15, the National Health Commission brought out a pilot edition (试行版本) of the ninth COVID-19 diagnosis (诊断) and treatment guidelines.
Many changes aim to lighten the load (压力) on the health-care system and make sure that people can lead a normal life. Also, recovered cases can now be monitored (监测) at home, and for a shorter time.
In China, the vaccination rate is not high enough to provide a strong protection for the vulnerable (脆弱的), including the elderly.
" The government and the Communist Party of China always put people's lives first, so they will never give up. " Liang added.
A. As a result, living with COVID-19 is not a choice for China because it does harm to people.
B. That can still cause great harm and we cannot afford it.
C. Some people wonder whether China could do the same thing.
D. It is a great challenge for Chinese people to get enough medical care during the outbreak.
E. For example, COVID-19 antigen tests (抗原测试), which can be done at home, are now available (可获得的)
F. Meanwhile, China has changed its measures to treat the new COVID-19 cases.
