Welcome everyone to the Ministry of Transport's regular press conference for November. Thank you for your continued support and coverage of transportation issues, which has provided strong public backing for the sector's development even amid efforts to prevent and control the pandemic.

Today's press conference will primarily introduce our department's efforts to further strengthen COVID-19 prevention and control measures along cold-chain logistics channels.

Recently, multiple regions have reported detecting positive COVID-19 nucleic acid results on the outer packaging or in the environment of imported cold-chain foods, serving as a stark reminder and raising higher expectations for our winter epidemic prevention and control efforts. Strengthening the ongoing strategies of "preventing imported cases and domestic resurgences" and ensuring "comprehensive protection of both people and goods" remain the top priorities for routine epidemic prevention and control in transportation sectors. Building on previous initiatives, our ministry has recently issued the *Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Prevention and Disinfection in Road and Waterway Logistics of Imported Cold-Chain Foods*, aimed at reinforcing epidemic prevention measures across logistics enterprises and processes involved in transporting such goods by road and waterway. The guidelines focus primarily on safeguarding workers and related personnel involved in handling and transporting imported cold-chain foods, with a strong emphasis on critical control points like loading, unloading, and transportation, while also prioritizing rigorous disinfection practices throughout the cold-chain logistics chain.

At the same time, in the railway, civil aviation, and postal sectors, the National Railway Administration, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and the State Post Bureau are required to further implement and deploy measures in line with the relevant principles outlined in the "Guidelines."

Today, I’ll take this opportunity to briefly introduce you again to the details of the "Guide," focusing primarily on successfully managing four key "thresholds."

First, it’s crucial to prioritize the safety of key personnel by strengthening protective measures for workers and ensuring the personal safety of those on the frontlines of cold-chain logistics. Transportation companies handling imported cold-chain products must rigorously implement safety protocols for port workers as well as drivers, loaders/unloaders, crew members, pilots, and other frontline staff involved in cold-chain operations. This includes thorough health registration, daily health monitoring, proper provision of personal protective equipment, regular nucleic acid testing, and comprehensive disinfection procedures. Additionally, specialized training should be provided to ensure that high-risk workers can correctly don and doff protective gear. Especially when handling imported cold-chain goods originating from areas affected by outbreaks, dockworkers and other operational staff must be thoroughly instructed to wear masks at all times during cargo handling. They should avoid holding the product too close to their faces or using their hands to touch their mouths and noses. Importantly, workers must refrain from opening boxes or cold-chain food packaging prematurely to prevent direct contact with potentially contaminated frozen products. By taking these stringent precautions, we can effectively safeguard the health and safety of frontline personnel and minimize the risk of infection.

Second, strictly control the quality of transportation tools by enforcing rigorous disinfection procedures to firmly prevent the virus from spreading via transport channels. Before and after cold-chain logistics transportation, thoroughly disinfect all parts of used vehicles and containers that may have come into contact with the goods—particularly high-risk surfaces frequently touched by personnel, such as steering wheels, door handles, and mobile devices. Additionally, regularly sanitize these areas to minimize contamination risks. Meanwhile, coordinate with or entrust qualified disinfection units to conduct comprehensive sterilization of vehicles, ships, and other transport equipment used for imported cold-chain foods, as well as the inner walls of containers that have previously held such products.

Third, strengthen information control by implementing a robust information-registration system, providing critical support for tracing and controlling the COVID-19 outbreak in the cold-chain logistics sector. Further urge import cold-chain food transportation companies to strictly enforce the information-registration protocol, ensuring accurate recording of details such as shipped goods, vehicles/ vessels, drivers, crew members, loading/unloading personnel, and recipients. Importantly, these companies must refrain from transporting any imported cold-chain foods whose sources cannot be verified. Additionally, we will closely supervise port operators, freight terminals, and other relevant entities to ensure they meticulously document all incoming and outgoing transport vehicles carrying imported cold-chain foods, along with detailed information about their drivers and other associated personnel.

Fourth, ensure rigorous handling protocols and effective emergency responses to sudden incidents, firmly cutting off any potential transmission routes of the virus in the cold-chain logistics system. Importing cold-chain food transportation companies should further refine their COVID-19 emergency response plans. If imported cold-chain foods or their packaging test positive for the novel coronavirus nucleic acid, companies must immediately activate their contingency plans, promptly implementing measures such as isolating close contacts and severing transmission pathways to ensure a timely and efficient response. Additionally, when cases or individuals exhibiting unusual symptoms suspected of COVID-19 are identified, companies must enforce internal containment measures to prevent further spread while simultaneously preventing the virus from being exported. They should also collaborate closely with relevant authorities to conduct epidemiological investigations, track and manage close contacts, and carry out disinfection efforts at affected sites.

If journalist friends are interested, you can visit the official website of the Ministry of Transport to access the full text of the "Guidance." Moving forward, the Ministry of Transport will continue to provide guidance and support to cold-chain logistics enterprises and professionals involved in importing cold-chain foods, working tirelessly to strengthen COVID-19 prevention and control measures in cold-chain logistics. We will further reinforce the "personnel and goods defense" approach to firmly prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus through cold-chain logistics channels.