The building of more makeshift hospitals is aimed at enabling mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases to be admitted promptly, cutting off transmission, a health official said on Monday.

Guo Yanhong, an official at the Bureau of Medical Administration, said during a news briefing that building makeshift hospitals is not a sign of worsening epidemic conditions.

"Rather, it is to adapt to the traits of Omicron, the fact that it is highly contagious, spreads very quickly and the majority of infections are mild or asymptomatic," she said.

Because new infections will likely spike swiftly during an Omicron outbreak, Guo said that makeshift hospitals are vital to accommodating cases and relieving the strain on the rest of the healthcare system.

She added that moderate and severe cases will be sent to designated hospitals and that makeshift hospitals can play significant roles in tackling other large-scale health emergencies.