BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Despite risks of further infection, ensuring nationwide work resumption is a crucial part of China's efforts against the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said here Tuesday.
Cong Liang, secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), told a press conference that resumption of production and the epidemic control efforts are mutually reinforcing as it provides essential "ammunition" for the frontline battle.
Aware of the potential infection risks brought by mass traveling and gathering, Cong said the continued suspension of production would threaten future supplies of medical materials and daily necessities, thus making the ongoing anti-epidemic efforts unsustainable.
But Cong said it does not mean that all sectors in all regions should universally follow the resumption order.
For regions badly hit by the epidemic and industries that are less essential for medical and daily supplies, practical arrangements should be made in accordance with the realities, he said.
Cong also stressed efforts to protect workers from the coronavirus to prevent cross-infection and any further outbreak.
Firms already resuming work should be equipped with disinfectants and body temperature detectors and provide protective gear such as masks to their employees, he said.
Enterprises providing essential material support and services for the epidemic control efforts such as medical supplies, energy, logistics and transportation have resumed production in China as the nation, except hard-hit Hubei Province, gradually returns to work this week.
More than 76 percent of mask production capacity in China's 22 provincial regions had been resumed by Monday, while about 94.6 percent of the country's major grain production and processing firms have restarted production, according to the NDRC. Enditem
