It is essential to integrate and function risk communication and community engagement into national public health emergency response. Based on the interim guideline released by WHO and the situation concerning the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in China, this paper suggests that risk communication systems should be enhanced in the highest levels of government. Specifically, internal and partner coordination mechanisms are required to be improved and activated, public communication should be more rapid and accessible, communication engagement with affected communities should be paid more attention, addressing uncertainty and rumor still requires effective measures, and both global collaboration and evidence-based decision-making should be involved in the outbreak control and prevention.
