Che Jun (right, second), Party chief of Zhejiang, inspects the provincial center for disease control and prevention on Jan 22. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

Efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus are in full force in Zhejiang province.

Che Jun, Party chief of Zhejiang, inspected the provincial center for disease control and prevention on Jan 22 and urged medical workers to strengthen virus detection and disease treatment and take precautions against infection.

The provincial department of education also set up a special work group and published an emergency notice asking all schools to take effective measures to curb the further spread of the new coronavirus.

According to the notice, schools should strengthen medical personnel training, prepare ample medical supplies such as masks and disinfectants, and ensure the availability of medical staff at all times.

Schools should inform local health departments if there are any students or faculty members from Wuhan, Hubei province, where the virus was originated, or who have recently traveled to the city, so that health inspections can be carried out.

Schools should avoid large gatherings and activities and discourage students and faculty members from traveling to Wuhan.

During the winter holiday, schools should keep in close contact with the parents of students and advise them on how best to combat the disease.

Schools should disinfect classrooms, dormitories and other places and continue to monitor the spread of the disease. They may be advised to suspend school if the situation worsens.

Zhejiang announced on Jan 22 that five new coronavirus cases were confirmed the previous day, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the city to 10 as of noon of Jan 22, including one in Hangzhou, three in Ningbo, four in Wenzhou, one in Zhoushan and one in Taizhou.

All of the confirmed patients had traveled to Wuhan or had close contact with people who had traveled to the city recently. They have been quarantined for medical treatment at designated local hospitals.

Medical experts emphasized washing hands frequently, wearing masks outside and seeing doctors immediately if experiencing a fever.