BEIJING — Elderly care institutions in high-risk regions of novel coronavirus infection should suspend elderly people and staff from entering the facilities, according to a guideline issued by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Feb 25.

Staff should live inside the institutions or live in designated and independent places, the guideline said, noting that those living outside should avoid taking public transportation to work.

Newly admitted elderly people and those who need to return for particular reasons, as well as newly recruited staff, should be placed under quarantine for 14 days and given nucleic acid tests before entering the facilities.

The regulation also applies to elderly care institutions in other regions with confirmed infection cases, according to the ministry.