Beijing will alert the public with the forecasted severity of air pollution in three ascending categories — yellow, orange and red — and adopt corresponding emergency response measures, according to a plan announced Wednesday by the Beijing Municipal Public Health Commission.

According to the "Beijing Heavy Air Pollution Health Emergency Response Plan," the municipal and district health departments will perform the following tasks after the air pollution warnings are issued: Educate the public about information on air pollution prevention and health protection; organize medical diagnosis and treatment; strengthen emergency monitoring and response; and carry out the supervision and implementation of the plan.

The city will adopt emergency response measures corresponding to the severity levels of the forecasted air pollution.

For the yellow alert (Level III), health protection guidance measures should be taken. The health departments should remind the public to shut their doors and windows, and open windows for fresh air after pollution goes away; they should remind the children and elderly, the infirm and those suffering from respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular diseases and other chronic diseases to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities.

When the orange alert (Level II) is activated, in addition to the guidance measures for the yellow alert, people in general are advised to decrease outdoor activities, and outdoor people are advised to take preventive measures such as wearing masks. Citizens can dial the hotline 12320 for health consultancies, and medical institutions should strengthen education campaigns and offer health guidance.

In the case of the red alert (Level I), in addition to the guidance measures for the orange alert, medical institutions should also conduct medical treatment and related preparatory work.

In order to ensure the implementation of the plan, work related to air pollution response will be integrated into the city's health emergency system for unified management. At the same time, under the unified leadership of the Municipal Heavy Air Pollution Emergency Headquarters, the Municipal Heavy Air Pollution Health Emergency Response Branch has also been established. The branch shall organize and supervise the implementation of various measures for air pollution and health emergency in the city.

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