China to step up assistance for people in need during holidays

People wearing face masks visit Chunxi Road, a famous commercial pedestrian street in Chengdu, Sichuan province on Sept 19, 2022. Chengdu started to resume normal life and production from Sept 26 after effectively controlling the latest COVID-19 outbreak. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has issued a notice ordering local civil affairs authorities to comprehensively implement the country's basic living assistance policy and step up temporary assistance work, in a bid to ensure the basic daily needs of vulnerable groups during the New Year and Spring Festival holidays.

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Local authorities should strengthen emergency social relief work, the notice said, and assistance should be provided to those facing temporary difficulties in terms of basic needs as a result of the epidemic.

The document highlighted the importance of assistance for COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition.

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COVID-19 prevention materials will be provided to vulnerable groups, including masks, disinfectant and health kits, the notice said, ordering coordinated efforts from relevant departments to provide tiered and multi-level health services such as vaccination and health consultation.