What should we do if the COVID-19nucleic acid test (NAT) results are found to be positive in the production and processing of imported cold chain food? On January 10, the Sichuan Provincial Emergency Response Headquarters for COVID-19 Outbreak issued the Guidelines on Emergency Response for Epidemic Prevention and Control of Imported Cold Chain Food. The Guidelines clarifies that it is necessary to immediately launch emergency response procedures in accordance with the Guidelines, and implement prevention and control measures such as control of the source of infection, cut off the transmission route, and protection of susceptible population in case of emergencies. For example, these measures should be taken when the NAT results are found to be positive in the production and processing, distribution and sales, storage and transportation, catering services and other links of imported cold chain food, or imported cold chain food with positive NAT results reported by other places are distributed into Sichuan Province. The Guidelines stresses that according to different cases of imported cold chain food with positive NAT results, different emergency responsesshall be made for the cases discovered within the province and cases reported by other places. If products with positive NAT results are found in the local cold chain logistics link, the relevant testing agency shall start the response and report to the local epidemic prevention and control work team for cold chain logistics, and the work team shall simultaneously report the situation to the local emergency response headquarters and its higher authorities. The local emergency response headquarters shall decide whether to start an emergency response, and report the handling results to its higher authorities level by level. Meanwhile, local emergency response headquarters, and departments (units) in health, market supervision, commerce, agriculture and rural affairs, transportation, and public security shall take corresponding response measures. If any illegal or criminal act is discovered in on-site handling, tracing investigation, isolation observation of contacts, and medical treatment, the violator shall be subject to investigation and severe punishment stipulated by the law. The Guidelines also clarifies the handling measures for some batches of cold chain food with positive NAT results reported by other places, and sets forth the procedures of information distribution and termination of emergency response.

　　The Guidelines highlights that in line with the principle of "command of local authority, law-based regulation, scientific response, and fast and efficient control", the emergency response of epidemic prevention and control for imported cold chain food shall be carried out under the leadership of the local emergency response headquarters. The member units of the local epidemic prevention and control work team for cold chain logistics shall fulfill their responsibilities in the light of the Epidemic Prevention and Control Work Plan of Cold Chain Logistics of Sichuan Province, and organize and implement emergency response in an orderly manner. For the relevant information on emergency handling of cold chain food, the local emergency response headquarters shall, as appropriate, release it to the public in the form of press conferences and announcements. The Guidelines will take effect from the date of issuance, and will be updated in due course according to changes in the epidemic situation and assessment results.