June 25 to 27 is the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office of China on the 7th, a reporter asked an expert: Can masks be taken off during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday?

"Overall, under the current stage and strategic prevention and control achievements in China, the occasions and suitable groups for taking off masks are increasing. " Wang Chen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, answered.

He gave an example, saying that the emergency response level for public health incidents in Beijing has been adjusted to level three, " At this level, in fact, most people can consider not wearing masks in most situations."

Reporters noticed that the journalists and staff attending that day generally wore masks. Wang Chen also added that whether to wear a mask should be judged according to different situations, and there is a scientific way to wear masks. "Masks should be routinely carried with you for unexpected needs." In addition, people working in hospitals and other enclosed places, medical staff, community workers and others who have close contact with people, as well as high-risk groups such as chronic patients and the elderly, should still wear masks. Those with respiratory symptoms should actively wear masks.

Regarding normalized epidemic prevention and control work, Wang Chen frankly said that a balance must be found between effective prevention and control and production and life. He cited the guidance issued by the State Council's joint prevention and control mechanism, focusing on five aspects:

First, emphasizing prevention as the main approach, including specific measures such as "promoting mask-wearing among the public," "strengthening protection of susceptible groups," "advocating the use of serving chopsticks during public dining," and "controlling and quitting smoking";

Second, once cases and outbreaks occur, respond as early, timely, and effectively as possible, implementing "early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early treatment";

Third, highlight prevention and control of key links, "especially specific institutions where people gather such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, which have many susceptible and high-risk groups and require extra attention." Communities are key units of prevention and control and often the initial sites of outbreak spread. Work arrangements should be made appropriately according to different epidemic situations and community characteristics;

Fourth, strengthen support and guarantees, "the most powerful weapon for humans to fight diseases is science and technology," and "learning from other countries' prevention and control experiences and technological advances is crucial";

Fifth, strengthen organizational leadership, "the government should make judgments on risk levels and response levels, thereby mobilizing and organizing all social forces to prevent and control the epidemic, while actively arranging production and life."