The Chongqing Municipal Health Commission -- in Southwest China's Chongqing -- held a teleconference on June 16 about normalized COVID-19 prevention and control measures, to ensure that all the city's health-related authorities strictly implement national and municipal-level requirements and prevent a rebound of the outbreak, local officials said.

At the conference, commission officials said that the city should refine and improve the normalized COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism, increasing relevant investigations and screening efforts.

Officials stressed that it was important to strengthen the prevention and control measures in key places -- such as schools, elderly care homes, mental health institutions and prisons -- and strengthen control over the environment and management of public places.

At the same time, relevant medical institutions are being required to improve their medical treatment capacity and further expand the scope of testing.

Officials said that relevant departments were asked to improve their emergency response ability, strengthen their reserves of materials, boost the publication of epidemic-related information, increase the publicity for various health sciences and further promote the patriotic health campaign.

In addition, existing work arrangements -- such as flood controls and drought relief, emergency duties, as well as epidemic controls, prevention and control measures for infectious diseases in summer -- are being required to be implemented in accordance with the plan.

Officials said that various key annual work programs -- including increasing poverty alleviation by providing better health care and deepening medical reforms -- should be carried out in an comprehensive and consistent way.