August 22, 2020
The incubation period for COVID-19, the time between exposure to the virus and the onset of symptoms, is about three to seven days for most people and can be up to 14 days, during which these pre-symptomatic patients can be contagious, according to China's latest national guideline on diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 published on Aug 19.
The five days after symptoms occur is when the disease becomes highly transmissible, the guideline said. Respiratory droplets and close contact with infected patients and contaminated objects are the primary methods of transmission, it added.
"Since the global pandemic is still ongoing and the situation may persist for quite some time, the risk of COVID-19 spreading in our country will still exist," the guideline said. Therefore, early diagnosis, quarantine and treatment are crucial for improving cure rates and reducing mortality, it added.
The guideline called for new measures including publishing the status of suspected or confirmed patients online within two hours after their discovery, as well as the administration of anti-viral medicines at the early stages of the disease, especially for severe patients.
Wang Bin, an expert at the National Health Commission's Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, said in a news briefing on Wednesday that China is proactively preparing for the possible reoccurrence of COVID-19 in the autumn and winter with more prevention measures, more testing and more extensive screening and monitoring.
"We hope the public can stay vigilant in regards to COVID-19, maintain social distancing and hand-washing, use serving utensils (rather than personal cutlery to serve meals) and continue other hygienic practices," she said.
For treatment, the latest guideline discouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19 patients, and anti-HIV combination drug lopinavir/ritonavir could only be used in tandem with ribavirin.
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