Residents line up to get nucleic acid testing in Wangfujing, Beijing’s Dongcheng district on Friday. Photo: Li Hao/GT

 Beijing authorities told certain medical institutions that refused to treat patients from COVID-19 medium and high risk areas to immediately make changes. 

The move comes in response to complaints from patients who traveled to Beijing from epidemic affected regions but were denied treatment by the medical institutions.

Li Ang, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Health Commission, said at a press conference on Saturday that the city’s health authorities will continue to actively respond to public concerns and ensure all patients receive treatment in a timely manner. 

The Global Times learned that some medical institutions in Beijing have set up separate rooms for the diagnosis and treatment of patients coming from epidemic affected regions to meet their needs while preventing potential imported infection. 

China has recently seen local cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 and isolated cases in many places, including North China’s Hebei Province, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province and Jilin Province, and Beijing. The Chinese mainland reported 65 new local confirmed cases on Sunday. 

Beijing has strengthened entry restriction of people from COVID-19 medium and high risk areas since the start of an outbreak in Daxing district on Tuesday. A certificate showing a negative coronavirus test taken within three days is required before entering the capital city.

Observers also called for relevant authorities to establish an information-sharing system connecting medical institutions to provide more accurate information to help determine the risk level of patients from other cities.  

Global Times