New COVID-19 rules trigger rapid response

Enhanced help

In Beijing, as part of the 20 new measures, help is being stepped up for people stranded outside the city for extended periods.

Li Yuanyun, an entrepreneur who has traveled extensively in South China for business in the past two months, finally returned to the capital on Saturday.

"I was really distressed when my digital health code status was abnormal, and all company meetings had to be held online," he said. "Being able to return to Beijing means a lot for my business, and I hope that in the future, I can continue to travel in and out of the city smoothly."

Xu Hejian, spokesman for the Beijing municipal government, said on Sunday that the city will continue to improve policies for those leaving and returning to the capital, in particular, making this easier for truck drivers, students, commuters and people planning hospital visits.

In Shanghai, many residents found over the weekend that planned testing in neighborhoods had been called off, in line with the new protocol prohibiting the reckless launch of large-scale nucleic acid testing.

Wang Yanmei, a lawyer based in Shanghai, said: "I still went to a testing booth on the street this morning, because taking public transportation and entering shopping malls requires a negative test result within 72 hours. Nevertheless, as a citizen, it is reassuring to see that policy from the top leadership being acted on so quickly at grassroots level."

On Sunday, the Shanghai municipal government reiterated that the city will no longer carry out mass nucleic acid screening at the administrative division level, apart from special cases where transmission chains are unclear.

The municipal authorities also said nursery care centers and primary and high schools will conduct tests on campus three times a week as part of measures to upgrade testing strategies for schools.

Task forces

Lei, the health commission vice-minister, said another way to guarantee that the new measures are enforced is to require local governments to set up a task force to oversee rectification of malpractices such as turning away patients for virus control reasons, or recklessly expanding controlled areas.

In Chongqing, Yang Lin, spokesman for the municipal government, said it has guided communities to connect with nearby hospitals and drugstores, and in checking the condition of vulnerable groups.

Zhou Yue, 35, who is seven months pregnant, booked an antenatal checkup at a local hospital for later this month, but on Friday, her residential complex in Chongqing was hit by an outbreak of COVID-19.

She said property managers contacted her, taking note of her apartment number, the hospital she intended to visit, and her medical requirements.

"I have been worried about the provision of healthcare services during the epidemic, but I can see that the neighborhood has made considerate arrangements. I feel reassured and can now rest at home," Zhou said.