First-Level Public Health Emergency Response Activated

According to the nature, severity and scope of impact, public health emergencies are classified into four levels (I, II, III and IV), with severity decreasing from Level I to Level IV. The novel coronavirus epidemic is a public health emergency with the fastest spread and the widest range of infections, and has been the most difficult to prevent and control in China since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.

"Go where there is epidemic, fight it till it perishes." On January 23, 2020, Wuhan's urban bus, subway, ferry and long-distance passenger transportation was all suspended, and the departure channels of airport and railway stations were also temporarily closed. 

On January 24, Hubei province officially launched the first-level response to major public health emergency. Across China, a total of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government took similar actions and made comprehensive preparation for joint prevention and control of the epidemic. 

Consequently, the NHC urged transportation, civil aviation, railway and other departments to formulate emergency response plans. It also worked with the Ministry of Finance and jointly devised policies on allocating funds in support of epidemic prevention and control. As phased results are achieved, the overall situation of the epidemic has shown a positive trend in China. To ensure progress with both epidemic control and production, many places have appropriately lowered their emergency response levels according to the local situation.

啟動Ⅰ級響應

根據突發公共衛生事件性質、危害程度、涉及范圍，突發公共衛生事件劃分為特別重大(Ⅰ級)、重大(Ⅱ級)、較大(Ⅲ級)和一般(Ⅳ級)四級。這次新冠肺炎疫情是新中國成立以來在我國發生的傳播速度最快、感染范圍最廣、防控難度最大的一次突發公共衛生事件。

疫情就是命令，防控就是責任。自2020年1月23日起，武漢城市公交、地鐵、輪渡、長途客運暫停運營，機場、火車站離漢通道暫時關閉。1月24日，湖北省正式啟動重大突發公共衛生事件Ⅰ級響應。全國先后共有31個省、市、自治區啟動“重大突發公共衛生事件Ⅰ級響應”，全面備戰新冠肺炎疫情聯防聯控工作。在Ⅰ級響應發出后，國家衛生健康委要求各地交通運輸、民航、鐵路等部門制定應急處理預案；財政部與國家衛健委聯合制定疫情防控經費有關保障政策。隨著疫情防控工作取得階段性成效，全國疫情形勢出現積極向好的趨勢。按照“防控生產兩不誤”的要求，全國多地根據實際情況適當調整應急響應級別。