Ahead of the National Day holiday and Mid-Autumn Festival, local health authorities are warning people about the risks of traveling and gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic and traditional seasonal infectious diseases.

Effective protection measures include understanding the health risks at your destination and its reservation policies; and preparing masks, disinfectants and personal dishware for your travels.

Officials insist on the importance of wearing masks while taking public transportation and handwashing.

According to Pan Qichao, vice director of Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, autumn and winter are peak season for respiratory infectious diseases.

“There is still risk of dengue fever, so removing standing water and controlling mosquitoes are also important,” Pan said.