International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Editorial Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic: The Chinese Experience and Implications for Other Countries Wei Liu 1,*, Xiao-Guang Yue 2,3 and Paul B. Tchounwou 4,* 1 Business School, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266100, China 2 School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus; [email protected] 3 CIICESI, ESTG, Politécnico do Porto, 4610-156 Felgueiras, Portugal 4 Department of Biology, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Box 18750, Jackson, MS 39217, USA * Correspondence: [email protected] (W.L.); [email protected] (P.B.T.) Received: 26 March 2020; Accepted: 27 March 2020; Published: 30 March 2020 Abstract: The ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that occurred in China is rapidly spreading globally. China’s bond and strict containment measures have been proved (in practice) to significantly reduce the spread of the epidemic. This was obtained through the use of emergency control measures in the epidemic areas and the integration of resources from multiple systems, including business, community, technology, education, and transportation, across the country. In order to better understand how China has managed to reduce the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic, this editorial systematically reviews the specific measures for infection prevention and control of the disease. The best practices for COVID-19 eradication in China provide evidence-based strategies that could be replicated in other countries. Keywords: COVID-19; epidemic; China; emergency control measures; public health 1. Introduction The COVID-19 outbreak is an ongoing epidemic of viral pneumonia, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus [1]. Since the earliest known pneumonia cases of unknown origin that were identified in the Wuhan city of China in December 2019, the epidemic has rapidly spread throughout China in just several months, turning into a serious national public health crisis, and patients with the same symptoms have been gradually documented in other countries [2,3]. Under the circumstance of the significant public health risk that the international spread of epidemic poses to the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern over the global outbreak of COVID-19 on 30 January 2020, and has escalated it to a global pandemic on 11 March [4]. Hitherto, there has been a total of 292,142 laboratory-confirmed cases and 12,784 deaths globally as of 22 March, of which 81,498 cases and 3,267 deaths are in China [5]. Even though China is temporarily the country with the largest number of cases, the increase of new cases is falling and there is evidence that the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic has passed for China [6]. Since 19 March, Wuhan, the city where the outbreak started, has reported no new confirmed or suspected cases for five consecutive days [7]. The epicenter of the outbreak was originally in China and has now been transferred to other countries such as Italy, the United States, Spain, and Germany. The WHO confirmed that “Europe has now become the epicenter of the pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world” [8]. Figure1 reports the new and cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 data for China and the rest of the countries, by date of report. The figure shows a significant difference in the timing of case growth trends between the two location categories. The Chinese government has taken Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2304; doi:10.3390/ijerph17072304 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2304 2 of 6 Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, x 2 of 6 a series of aggressive measures in a timely manner, which have proved to be effective in alleviating Chinesethe epidemic government to a large has extent.taken a Consequently, series of aggre thessive objective measures of this in editoriala timely ismanner, to review which a selection have provedof measures to be effective undertaken in alleviating in response the toepidemic the COVID-19 to a large epidemic extent. Consequently, in China, and the to provideobjective potential of this editorialevidence is andto review guidance a selection to other of countries. measures undertaken in response to the COVID-19 epidemic in China, and to provide potential evidence and guidance to other countries. FigureFigure 1. 1.NewNew and and cumulative cumulative confirmed confirmed cases cases of of COVID-19 COVID-19 for China and thethe restrest ofof thethe countries countries by bydate date of of report report (Data (Data sources: sources: World World Health Health Organization Organization Situation Situation Reports). Reports). 2. Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic in China 2. Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic in China SinceSince the the severe severe acute acute respiratory respiratory syndrome (SARS)(SARS) outbreakoutbreak in in 2003, 2003, the the Chinese Chinese government government has hasformulated formulated and and implemented implemented the th “Regulationse “Regulations on Preparednesson Preparedness for thefor Responsethe Response to Emergent to Emergent Public PublicHealth Health Hazards”, Hazards”, with thewith intention the intention of establishing of establishing a rapid a andrapid eff andective effective epidemic epidemic emergency emergency response responsemechanism mechanism and improving and improving its response its response capacity, capaci to reducety, to reduce the degree the degree of emergency of emergency disaster disaster to the toutmost the utmost extent extent [9]. Compared [9]. Compared with thewith SARS the SARS virus, thevirus, SARS-CoV-2 the SARS-CoV-2 virus of virus the COVID-19 of the COVID-19 outbreak outbreakhas the characteristicshas the characteristics of a stronger of infectivitya stronger and infectivity a longer incubationand a longer period incubation [2]. Additionally, period as[2]. the Additionally,COVID-19 outbreak as the COVID-19 occurred aroundoutbreak the occurred time of annual around Chinese the time Lunar of annual New Year Chinese holiday, Lunar billions New of Yearresidents holiday, returned billions to of their residents hometown returned to celebrate to their hometown the New Year to celebrate with their the families, New Year as is with traditional their families,in the Chinese as is traditional culture, whichin the Chinese greatly increasedculture, which the personnel greatly increased mobility the and personnel traffic congestion mobility inand the trafficshort congestion term [10]. in Wuhan the short city, term the epicenter [10]. Wuhan of the city, epidemic, the epicenter is also of the the core epidemic, transfer is hubalso ofthe China’s core transfertransportation hub of China’s system, whichtransportation connects system, most regions which in connects China. These most newregions changes in China. and characteristics These new changeshave undoubtedly and characteristics put forward have undoubtedly new requirements put forward and challenges new requirements for the government and challenges to respond for the to governmentthe COVID-19 to respond outbreak. to The the Chinese COVID-19 government outbreak. has The taken Chinese serious government comprehensive has andtaken nationwide serious comprehensiveresponse measures and nationwide to fight against response the spread measures of COVID-19 to fight against and has the achieved spread of positive COVID-19 results and on has the achievedbasis of positive empirical results evidence. on the Here basis are of empirical some major evidence. highlights Here that are thesome government major highlights has adopted, that the to governmentrespond to has the COVID-19adopted, to epidemic. respond to the COVID-19 epidemic. 2.1. The Emergency Control Measures of Epidemic Areas 2.1. The Emergency Control Measures of Epidemic Areas As the epicenter of the epidemic, Wuhan city first announced a travel quarantine area by the As the epicenter of the epidemic, Wuhan city first announced a travel quarantine area by the government on 23 January 2020, and the quarantine radius was expanded to all other cities in the Hubei government on 23 January 2020, and the quarantine radius was expanded to all other cities in the province, encompassing a total population of 45 million, by 30 January [11]. All public transportation Hubei province, encompassing a total population of 45 million, by 30 January [11]. All public in Wuhan city, including bus, subway, and ferry services were suspended, and expressways, airports, transportation in Wuhan city, including bus, subway, and ferry services were suspended, and and railway stations were temporarily closed. All large gatherings including the New Year celebrations expressways, airports, and railway stations were temporarily closed. All large gatherings including were canceled. As the asymptomatic incubation period of COVID-19 could be up to 14 days, all the New Year celebrations were canceled. As the asymptomatic incubation period of COVID-19 could be up to 14 days, all residents were restricted to stay at home in self-quarantine, in order to prevent the spread of the virus. All public places such as shopping centers, schools, restaurants, and cinemas Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2304 3 of 6 residents were restricted to stay at home in self-quarantine, in order to prevent the spread of the virus.