Synergy is needed between authorities to ensure the provision of effective publicity and support for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in rural areas, Li Yanming told a news conference organized by the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism on Monday.

The head of the department of respiratory and critical care medicine at the Beijing Hospital said that the situation in rural areas is more complex than in urban areas, so joint efforts through multiple channels and departments are necessary to manage the epidemic in rural areas.

China has issued guidelines for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection in rural areas, which provide a scientific foundation for the fight, Li said.

"Attention still needs to be paid to the teaching and publicizing of general scientific awareness. Some seniors lack a basic knowledge of COVID-19, so departments involved need to create multiple channels to publicize necessary knowledge," she said, adding that during the publicity campaigns, authorities should use expressions and formats that seniors are able to understand and that are easy to accept.

Content disseminated should include both what seniors need to do and cannot do, and their neighbors and children should also be encouraged to understand this information.

Rural doctors are the main force working on the prevention and control of COVID-19 and have a good understanding of the diseases and conditions of rural residents, so they are able to provide appropriate guidance to those who need help, Li said.