The Guangzhou Municipal Government held a press conference on April 12th, addressing the concerns about its measures to control imported COVID-19 cases and prevent a further spread of the epidemic in the city.

Wen Guohui, Mayor of Guangzhou, said as an aviation hub, Guangzhou faces the challenges brought by the increasing number of imported cases. Since March 15th, the city has detected 119 imported cases, of which 94 cases are Chinese nationals, with 25 cases being foreign nationals.

To strengthen the management of international arrivals, Wen Guohui revealed the city has adopted the following measures to expand the scope of testing. He stressed these measures apply to both Chinese nationals and expats, aiming to provide better health services and ensure people’s safety:

On March 22nd, Guangzhou started screening and testing all people who entered China after March 8th but were not quarantined and tested because of the previous policy. The screening covered a total number of 21742 people.

On April 5th, Guangzhou started identifying and testing all people with travel history to high-risk countries. Thus far, the city has tested more than 4600 people including those arriving from high-risk countries and their close contacts. The city has also traced 1557 people that arrived in the city via high-risk flights between March 7th and 27th.

Because of these efforts, Guangzhou detected 13 locally transmitted cases infected by imported cases (1 by a Turkish national, 12 by African nationals).

Wen Guohui highlighted the government treats Chinese nationals and expats equally during the process of screening and testing. “We will strengthen both the health services we provide for expats and our communication system. As for confirmed cases, we will guarantee the necessary medical supplies and treat patients at all cost.”

Guangzhou will not tolerate discrimination

Liu Baochun, Director of Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, also stressed at the conference that the city has zero tolerance of discrimination and differential treatment. The city made strategies out of the constant evaluation on the risk levels of different countries and flights. The evaluation is based on the advice from experts, the epidemic situation overseas as well as investigation into imported cases.

“We are paying attention to the misunderstandings and inappropriate actions caused by communication issues, and will immediately set up a special team to improve our services. But we are also firmly opposed to any type of smear on our epidemic control efforts. We hope both Chinese nationals and expats alike will follow the city’s regulations and support each other in epidemic control and in getting back to work,” said Liu Baochun.

How Guangzhou detects local transmission cased by imported cases?

As mentioned from March 23rd, Guangzhou started to impose virus testing on international arrivals (both Chinese and foreign nationals) who entered into China after March 8th and had not been not quarantined.

“We discovered 4 infected expats in just three days, 3 of whom had dined in a restaurant called EMMA FOOD,” said Zhang Zhoubin, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at the press conference.

Then the team turned to the restaurant and found that its owners and her employees all tested positive for coronavirus. “We traced their close contacts and detected more infected patients including the owner’s friend, the employee’s husband and other expats. We also discovered that all of these infected patients had direct or indirect connections with locations including Tong Tong Trade City, Firuz Bistro and Bo Le Trade City.”

Zhang Zhoubin said the team might detect more infected cases as the investigation goes further. In addition, hospitals and their attached fever clinics are also imposing the virus test on suspected patients to help prevent further spread of the virus.

“Apart from the investigation, we also disinfected the places where we had discovered infection and have been monitoring places including crowded public areas, residential communities which had previously reported confirmed cases, designated hotels for quarantine and medical observation, airport and transport vehicles. The data shows all these places are constantly being disinfected and have low risk of further outbreak.”

Expats should abide by Chinese law

“We highly value the safety of expats and treat Chinese resident and expats equally in the enforcement of epidemic control measures,” Cai Wei, an officer of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau stressed, “expats should abide by Chinese law and accept the bureau’s checks on their passport and other international travel documents.

Article 38 of Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China indicates,

“ Foreigners having reached the age of 16, who stay or reside in China shall carry with them their passports or other international travel documents, or foreigners’ stay or residence permits, and accept the inspection of public security organs.

Foreigners who reside in China shall, within the prescribed time limit, submit foreigners’ residence permits to public security organs under local people’s governments at or above the county level in the places of residence for examination.”