BEIJING — Nearly 4 million community workers are fighting on the front line of 650,000 urban and rural communities following the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, a civil affairs official said on Feb 10.

Chen Yueliang, an official with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, told a press conference in Beijing that every community is guarded by an average of six community workers, each of whom serves 350 residents.

They are tasked with extremely arduous epidemic prevention and control work, and they work very hard, said Chen.

Noting that sharing pens and thermometers in screening a community may bring risks of cross-infection, Chen stressed taking scientific prevention and control measures at the community level, adding that many community workers now check residents' temperature by making phone calls, using social media groups and community information platforms, according to Chen.

To minimize the risks of cross-infection from close contact, information related to the epidemic control in some communities is recorded in real time by scanning a QR code or logging onto a WeChat mini-program instead of using traditional methods of registering on a piece of paper, he said.

Chen noted further steps will be taken to address the shortage of community workers and medical protection materials. The following points were underlined.

— Party committees and governments at all levels should urge communities to implement detailed prevention and control plans.

— Medical resources should be further guaranteed at the community level while work shifts of community workers should be properly arranged.

— The management system in communities such as registration methods should be improved, encouraging internet companies to develop applications that meet the requirements of community-based prevention and control.

— The level of targeted and detailed control work in communities should be improved, including strengthening the disinfection of roads, public spaces, facilities and equipment on a daily basis.

— Community-based prevention and control measures should be conducted in strict accordance with the law, and publicity and education for the public on epidemic control should also be carried out.