Introducing the New Versions of Chinese Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for COVID-19

Abstract

Since the first outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020, the pandemic has lasted already for 21⁄2 years, causing 564,126,546 confirmed infections and 6,371,354 confirmed deaths worldwide by July 22, 2022. In addition to the large number of deaths caused by the disease, the COVID-19 pandemic has also had a huge impact on the world economy. Not only have the transportation, tourism, catering, cultural and entertainment industries, and other personnel-intensive industries been directly impacted, but also a large number of people have been isolated and controlled or accepted home office work, which in turn affected all walks of life. According to the World Economic Outlook Report released by the International Monetary Fund in October 2021, the world economy has declined by 3.1% year-on-year in 2020, of which developed economies has declined by 4.5% and emerging market and developing economies by 2.1%. In the process of containing the COVID-19 epidemic, different countries have adopted different antiepidemic strategies, and the results achieved have been variable. China's antiepidemic containment strategies have proven highly effective. Wuhan, as the city where the outbreak was first reported, faced the rapid dissemination of an unknown pathogen. After the initial chaos, the situation was quickly stabilized with the support of personnel and materials from all over the country. Under the organization of the Chinese National Health Commission, the experience and lessons of epidemic prevention and control and clinical treatment have continuously been summarized and updated in national guidelines. Between January 16 and March 3, 2020, eight versions (the Trial Versions 1 to 7 and the Revised Trial Version 5) of theDiagnosis and Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 have been released and updatedwithin a short period