More than 90 percent of village and neighborhood committees have set up public health committees to combat COVID-19 to better harness volunteers and neighbors' willingness to help each other, an official from Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Wednesday.

"Mobilizing residents for epidemic control is vital," said Li Jian, an official at the ministry.

She told a news conference that communities should improve their volunteer system to encourage people to help those in need.

Vulnerable groups should receive medical treatment and medicine in time, and their conditions need to be recorded and monitored through instant messaging services like WeChat, she said.

Communities should assist with providing health services, especially medical treatment, medications and vaccinations and local government should focus medical resources on the grassroots, Li said.