Anti-epidemic workers sent to Foxconn plant in Henan

Official working groups have been dispatched to a giant Foxconn production plant affected by the COVID-19 epidemic in Central China to strengthen its disease control capability while improving the treatment of its workers, local authorities said on Monday.

The Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone, which administers the world's largest Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, Henan province, said in a notice that working teams at the provincial, city and district levels have all been sent there, requiring the company to tighten disease control measures, stock anti-virus materials, overcome complacency and slackness and ensure closed-loop management of production.

The Foxconn plant — a major iPhone producer with about 200,000 employees — has been affected by a developing COVID-19 outbreak in Zhengzhou.

The notice said arrangements have been made for workers who want to return to their hometowns, while care for those staying on campuses will be ramped up.

Zhengzhou and Henan authorities have also sent 200 workers to conduct nucleic-acid tests at the plant to detect infected cases as soon as possible. In addition, 400 sanitation and cleaning workers have been dispatched to the company to step up disinfection and hygiene work there, according to the notice.

During an interview with local newspaper Henan Daily on Monday, an anonymous Foxconn employee said that the company has initiated a closed-loop management protocol since Oct 13 — meaning that all workers are living in designated dormitories or hotels and only commute between plants and their rooms each day — and that tests have been conducted daily for all workers since Oct 10.

Dine-in services had been suspended since Oct 19, but given the improving COVID-19 situation, four canteens have started allowing workers to eat inside again, the company said.

It added that subsidies of at least 50 yuan ($6.90) per day have been issued to workers on duty. Medical aid teams from other regions have also been sent by the government to meet the healthcare demands of its workers.

The company added that the plant's output is at a peak period. Other Foxconn factories will be prepared to pick up the slack, if necessary.