BEIJING -- China's National Health Commission has called for unremitting efforts to maintain COVID-19 containment measures to guard against an epidemic rebound over the winter and spring.

The commission urged local authorities to step up epidemic monitoring and information reporting at a recent national teleconference.

Nucleic acid testing should be expanded to cover more people who need to be tested, the commission said, demanding an increased frequency of regular testing.

Efforts should go into the monitoring, reporting and transferring of COVID-19 cases identified at fever clinics, and medical institutions must not cover up the truth, the commission said.

It also called for measures to prevent imported cases from abroad and nosocomial infection, strengthen emergency responses to tackle cluster outbreaks and brace up for epidemic prevention and control around the Spring Festival.