After Haizhu district published the Notification of Strengthening COVID-19 Control and Prevention Measures in Haizhu district (7), we prepared FAQs to address the residents'concerns.

Our last FAQs cleared residents' concerns on how to purchase daily necessities and access medical care during the lockdown. 

This article will continue to address some other questions the public has in mind.

Why did Haizhu strengthen the implementation of COVID-19 control and prevention measures for 3 days?

A: First, considering the large number of newly detected cases in Haizhu district, which is not only densely populated but with close ties with other districts of Guangzhou, strengthened measures have to be taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 to other districts.

Second, The risk of cases imported from other districts still persists for Haizhu since other parts of Guangzhou are constantly faced with the challenge of imported cases and local outbreaks.

How to seek medical attention?

A:Every subdistrict has set up its own medical service hotline [for more information, please click to view Notification of Strengthening COVID-19 Control and Prevention Measures in Haizhu district (7)], where health workers are on duty 24 hours to provide online health services. Medical institutions and the 120 emergency networks are operating as usual, residents who do not live in medium- or high-risk areas can visit medical institutions to seek medical care on the basis of taking proper personal precautions. Residents of medium- or high-risk areas who do require medical assistance can be transported close-looped to designated hospitals by vehicles arranged by the medical coordination group of each area.

What should Haizhu residents do in these three days?

A: First of all, Haizhu residents should strictly abide by travel restrictions to stay at home as much as possible, and avoid going out, visiting others and gathering.

Second, residents should participate the universal PCR testing, where each individual must be covered as required. 

Residents are required to return to the place of residence as once the samples are taken at the testing venue.

Third, residents must follow the instructions of community staff. Each household can only send one person to shop daily necessities per day at designated time slots. Alternatively, supplies can be collected on a contactless basis.

Fourth, when you go out to purchase or collect delivered daily necessities, you must strictly practice COVID-19 safety protocols and clean your hands upon returning home.

What should I do when receiving a notification for centralized quarantine?

A: First of all, please stay indoors before the designated transportation vehicle arrives. Please pack essential personal belongings and medicines beforehand. Please bring your ID card, mobile phone, chargers, etc. (please Note that pets are not allowed at the quarantine hotels).

Second, please take proper personal precautions and wear N95 masks, gloves and face shields throughout the process.

Third, once the transportation vehicle is in place, please follow the instructions of the staff and go to the designated spot to get on board. Please sit one meter apart from other passengers, avoid gathering and minimize your contact with others.

Fourth, if you have serious underlying diseases, or if you are pregnant, young children or above 70 years old, you are eligible to apply for home quarantine.

Fifth, if you are yet to be transported to centralized quarantine facilities, please follow the instructions of the community when you are under mandatory home quarantine. Please stay at a separate room and minimize your contact with others before you are transported to a centralized quarantine facility.

What measures have Haizhu district taken to ensure the sufficiency of daily necessities?

A: First of all, Haizhu district has mobilized all available resources to ensure all suppliesare well-stocked. On the one hand, Haizhu district has attached great importance to ensure the supply of eight categories of daily necessities. On the other hand, Haizhu district is focusing on providing targeted services in key areas. Key enterprises responsible for providing daily necessities have prepared goods which are three to five times of their usual stock. Goods are shipped to stores with huge demands two to three times a day rather than once a day to make sure the stores have sufficient supplies.

Second, Haizhu district has rolled out a series of measures to ensure smooth logistics and efficient transportation. Commerce authorities at the municipal and district level have set up a 24-hour communication mechanism with enterprises responsible for providing daily necessities, so that key issues such as shipping capacity as well as the entry and exit of freight trucks can be effectively addressed. The aim is to ensure smooth, unclogged logistics, and make sure daily necessities can be delivered to the hands of the residents. 

Third, Haizhu district has enhanced monitoring measures to address emergency demands for daily necessities. Providers of essential supplies such as food stores, supermarkets, and farmers’ markets are running as usual. Haizhu district is closely monitoring the situation of different providers and stock will be replenished on a constant basis. 

The supply of meat, vegetables, aquatic products, rice, noodles, and other necessities is adequate. There is no need for panic buying.

What measures has Haizhu district taken to ensure stable prices?

A: First of all, Haizhu district will conduct price monitoring at all fronts. Prices of 25 categories of key COVID-19 control supplies and daily necessities will be monitored, so that market regulation authorities can get an understanding of the prices of key commodities in key areas in the first instant.

Second, Haizhu district will crack down on price gouging. Residents can file complaints through “12315” and “12345” and report on supply shortage as well as price gouging. Price gouging activities will be investigated and handled immediately. Perpetuations such as price gouging, stockpiling and unclear pricing will be cracked down.

Third, Haizhu district will encourage businesses topractice self-discipline in terms of pricing. Letter on Reasonable Pricing will be distributed. Price gouging, price manipulation and stockpiling are strictly forbidden.

Currently, the prices of key commodities in Haizhu district remain relatively stable.