Dear international friends,
At present, multiple provinces (regions/cities) have seen the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). In response to this outbreak, Guangdong Province has activated a Level I public health emergency response since January 23. The Shenzhen CPC Municipal Committee and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government have attached great importance to it and mobilized resources and is engaging in prevention and control efforts. Your health and confidence are important to us, so we are reaching out to you. We recommend the following practices to all of Shenzhen’s international residents:
I. Follow official information outlets closely. You may follow the official website of Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission or the WeChat official account run by Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, Shenzhen Government Online (https://www.sz.gov.cn/en/index.html), the official website of “eyeshenzhen” (http://www.eyeshenzhen.com/) and the governmental service App,“i Shenzhen”, among other official information sources for news updates on the latest developments of the epidemic. You may also check out the list of designated hospitals in Shenzhen and look for preventive and control guidance. If you have any questions, please call the government service hotline: 12345.
II. Before the outbreak is eliminated, you and your family should:
1. Minimize outdoor activities. Do not travel to Wuhan or other areas and places with reported outbreaks in the near future. Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated places and avoid parties or group activities. If you have to go and attend one, please do wear a face mask and try to avoid close contact with other people, and avoid contact with anyone with upper respiratory symptoms such as cough. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with tissue or flexed elbows, and no spitting.
2. Strengthen prevention and self-protection and keep good hygiene. Wear face masks properly (preferably surgical masks). Dispose of used masks appropriately. Keep good hygiene by washing hands often. Keep your residence well ventilated and clean. A good rest and regular exercise can help maintain good health. Stock in advance thermometers, disposable masks, disinfection products and other supplies. Avoid contact with wild animals or birds. Eggs and meat must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
III. If you had lived in or travelled to epidemic areas such as Wuhan in the past two weeks:
1. Actively join in our mass prevention and control efforts. Contact your community workstations as soon as possible and keep record of relevant information: time of arrival in Shenzhen, train (or license plate and flight) number, seat number and recent (14 days upon arrival in Shenzhen) everyday activities and people you meet.
2. Monitor your health condition closely and quarantine yourself from others. Check your health status twice a day for 14 days in a row upon departure from the infected areas. If conditions allow, live alone or in a single room with good ventilation. Minimize close contact with family members.
IV. Once you or your family members show any symptom of infection of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV),
1.It is suggested that you visit the closest designated fever clinic (see appendix for the 49 fever clinics in Shenzhen), especially in the case of children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with underlying diseases.
2.Make sure you and people who accompany you to the hospital wear face masks. If no mask is available, please cover your mouth and nose with tissue or your elbow when you cough. Avoid to wipe your saliva, nasal mucus and other bodily fluids with your hand.
3.Avoid taking crowded buses or the metro to the hospital and open the car window for ventilation as much as possible.
4.Upon arrival at the hospital, go to the triage counter immediately, inform the medical staff of your travel history and symptoms and follow their instructions. Note that if you returned from Wuhan within 14 days or have been in contact with Wuhan-returned people showing symptoms of fever please inform the medical staff immediately in order not to delay diagnosis and treatment.
5.Work with the government, social workers, and medical staff to conduct necessary investigation, quarantine, disinfection and transfer, etc.
6.If your family member is diagnosed with pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus , all the other family members , if deemed as close contacts, should be placed under medical observation for 14 days.
7. Places and objects touched by family members showing symptoms should be sterilized.
We wish you a good health and success in your future endeavors!
Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission
Foreign Affairs Office，Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government
January 29, 2020
Appendix
Shenzhen’s Major Hospitals with Fever Clinics (49)