03:07Representatives of China’s National Health Commission (NHC) held a press conference in Beijing on Monday, to offer clarity on the tenth edition of the newly-introduced national COVID-19 treatment plan.
In a major change to previous iterations of the plan, patients can now be released based on their condition and no longer require a negative nucleic acid test, as was previously mandated.
“In terms of changes in discharge criteria, we no longer require nucleic acid testing for patients in hospitals. As we all know, we previously required two nucleic acid tests to be negative and the ninth version of the national COVID-19 treatment plan required a CT value of more than 35,” explained Guo Yanhong, Director of the NHC’s Medical Emergency Department.
“Doctors can decide whether patients can be discharged based on their comprehensive condition. It can greatly shorten the length of stay of patients and improve the efficiency of our use of medical resources,” she added.
The newly amended national COVID-19 treatment plan falls in line with Beijing’s decision to downgrade virus management across China. Hospitals have reportedly been instructed to care for COVID-19 patients in the same way they would handle Class B infections.
Beijing eased many of its ‘zero-COVID’ policies after an abrupt U-turn in December, following widespread protests and rising economic and social costs. The easing of restrictions has triggered a wave of new Coronavirus cases, reportedly overwhelming some hospitals and causing long queues outside crematoriums.
China: COVID patients no longer require nucleic acid testing to be discharged - National Health Commission
Representatives of China’s National Health Commission (NHC) held a press conference in Beijing on Monday, to offer clarity on the tenth edition of the newly-introduced national COVID-19 treatment plan.
In a major change to previous iterations of the plan, patients can now be released based on their condition and no longer require a negative nucleic acid test, as was previously mandated.
“In terms of changes in discharge criteria, we no longer require nucleic acid testing for patients in hospitals. As we all know, we previously required two nucleic acid tests to be negative and the ninth version of the national COVID-19 treatment plan required a CT value of more than 35,” explained Guo Yanhong, Director of the NHC’s Medical Emergency Department.
“Doctors can decide whether patients can be discharged based on their comprehensive condition. It can greatly shorten the length of stay of patients and improve the efficiency of our use of medical resources,” she added.
The newly amended national COVID-19 treatment plan falls in line with Beijing’s decision to downgrade virus management across China. Hospitals have reportedly been instructed to care for COVID-19 patients in the same way they would handle Class B infections.
Beijing eased many of its ‘zero-COVID’ policies after an abrupt U-turn in December, following widespread protests and rising economic and social costs. The easing of restrictions has triggered a wave of new Coronavirus cases, reportedly overwhelming some hospitals and causing long queues outside crematoriums.
Representatives of China’s National Health Commission (NHC) held a press conference in Beijing on Monday, to offer clarity on the tenth edition of the newly-introduced national COVID-19 treatment plan.
In a major change to previous iterations of the plan, patients can now be released based on their condition and no longer require a negative nucleic acid test, as was previously mandated.
“In terms of changes in discharge criteria, we no longer require nucleic acid testing for patients in hospitals. As we all know, we previously required two nucleic acid tests to be negative and the ninth version of the national COVID-19 treatment plan required a CT value of more than 35,” explained Guo Yanhong, Director of the NHC’s Medical Emergency Department.
“Doctors can decide whether patients can be discharged based on their comprehensive condition. It can greatly shorten the length of stay of patients and improve the efficiency of our use of medical resources,” she added.
The newly amended national COVID-19 treatment plan falls in line with Beijing’s decision to downgrade virus management across China. Hospitals have reportedly been instructed to care for COVID-19 patients in the same way they would handle Class B infections.
Beijing eased many of its ‘zero-COVID’ policies after an abrupt U-turn in December, following widespread protests and rising economic and social costs. The easing of restrictions has triggered a wave of new Coronavirus cases, reportedly overwhelming some hospitals and causing long queues outside crematoriums.