Changzhou racing against time in battle against COVID-19

2022-03-17 14:55:00

To promptly contain the latest COVID-19 resurgence, Changzhou City in Jiangsu has raced against time to organize a massive nucleic acid testing campaign as well as intense epidemiological investigation and contact tracing.

Since March 13, more than 3,500 social organizations and 70 social work agencies in the city have donated epidemic prevention materials and daily necessities to the needy. Priority was given to the needs of the disadvantaged population including the elderly people who live alone and the disabled.

Staff of a supermarket are packing and delivering daily necessities for people in areas placed under quarantine or various travel restrictions. Photo/Shi Kang

For residents in areas placed under quarantine or various travel restrictions, the city’s civil affairs department carried out a survey to identify those in difficulties and then coordinated sources to meet the needs for medical treatment or nursing.

The access control measures in many buildings and industrial parks in Changzhou now require people to provide negative nucleic acid tests taken within 48 hours. However, many foreigners can’t register with the My Changzhou app to receive nucleic acid testing. Thanks to a task force, set up by the Xinbei District Business Bureau on March 15, more than 600 foreigners from 70 countries and regions were able to receive the testing, supported by volunteers who can speak Japanese, Korean, English or German on the site.

Xuejia Town in Xinbei District, known as a hub of foreign direct investment, also improved services to foreign-funded enterprises. For example, it helped transporters of emergency supplies to apply for permission for departure from the city, issued special transport pass, and opened green channel to mitigate the logistics disruption.