"The diagnosis and treatment volume of respiratory diseases in outpatient and emergency departments of medical institutions nationwide this week has increased compared to last week." At a press conference held by the National Health Commission on December 28th, Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission and deputy director of the Propaganda Department, reminded that the New Year holiday is approaching, with increased personnel mobility, increased activities such as visiting relatives and friends, tourism, and gatherings, and the risk of respiratory disease transmission is increasing. What are the current trends in the prevalence of different pathogens? How to spend the New Year holiday in a healthy way? How to strengthen protection for key groups such as the elderly and the young? Experts have provided relevant suggestions. "At present, COVID-19 is at a low level of prevalence in China, and the proportion of JN. 1 virus strain is relatively low, but it is on the rise, and may gradually develop into a domestic epidemic strain." Peng Zhibin, director of the respiratory infectious disease department of the Infectious Diseases Management Office of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that WHO assessed that JN. 1 has increased transmission and immune escape ability, but there is no evidence to suggest that its pathogenicity is increased. Peng Zhibin said that as the New Year's Day and the Spring Festival holidays are approaching and the Spring Festival transportation is about to begin, the flow of people will increase significantly. It is expected that the COVID-19 in China may rise to a certain extent. The risk of severe illness and death increases among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with chronic underlying diseases. Rural medical service systems with relatively weak treatment capabilities may face pressure and require early preparation. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention will also conduct timely follow-up monitoring, early warning, and risk assessment. "From the monitoring results, the pathogens of respiratory diseases are mainly influenza viruses, and most provinces have reached the peak and begun to decline. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19, etc. show a low level of fluctuation." Peng Zhibin said that indoor public places and transportation vehicles are usually closed and crowded, and are key places for the prevention and control of respiratory infectious diseases. People should wear masks and do a good job of protection when traveling on public holidays. It is recommended to vaccinate in time. Regarding the diet during festivals, Yu Kang, director of the Clinical Nutrition Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, reminded that there are indeed special characteristics to holiday diets, but the public, especially the elderly, should try to maintain consistency with their daily diet, pay attention to nutrition, and especially maintain food diversity and balance. Qi Wensheng, the director of the emergency department at Guang'anmen Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has come up with some dietary remedies, such as boiling ginger and water for those with yang deficiency. People with yin deficiency can eat Angelica sinensis, goji berries, lilies, Tremella fuciformis, etc. to adjust their physical fitness. Wang Quan, the chief physician of Beijing Children's Hospital, reminds parents to prepare as many sets of clothes as possible when taking their children out for play, in case of changes. Once damp, it should be replaced in a timely manner, because the sweat on cotton fabrics is difficult to evaporate in a short period of time, and children will be particularly cold, and may even get cold as a result. Ji Xunming, an academician of the CAE Member and chief physician of the Stroke Center of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, reminded that the cold caused vasoconstriction and increased blood viscosity, which would cause some physiological changes such as elevated blood pressure and blood pressure fluctuation, and might lead to myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Therefore, elderly people, heart disease patients, cerebrovascular disease patients, and hypertensive individuals should strengthen protection, pay attention to keeping warm, avoid excessive fatigue, and especially avoid prolonged outdoor stays in cold weather. (Reporter Zhang Jiaxing) (Liaoxin News Agency)