HOHHOT — North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has organized multiple departments to send electric heaters, cotton tents, and coats for the frontline anti-epidemic personnel, as a cold wave is expected to affect the virus-hit area of Ejina.

The National Meteorological Center said on Nov 2 that the temperature in Ejina Banner is expected to drop drastically to as low as minus 12 degrees Celsius in the next seven days.

To cope with the cold front, the regional headquarters of COVID-19 prevention and control had made arrangements in advance, with 240 cotton tents and over 2,000 cotton coats distributed in the banner as of Oct 31, Zhang Yongjun, deputy director of the regional development and reform commission, told a press conference on Nov 1.

Zhang said multiple departments, including the regional department of emergency management, have delivered materials including quilts, electric heaters, and power generators for heating purposes, as well as self-heating food to the banner.

Zhang said Ejina now has reserves of nearly 800 cotton tents, over 4,400 quilts, more than 5,000 cotton coats, and more than 2,000 electric heaters.

"Relevant departments will make every effort to guarantee the medics, police, officials, and volunteers working on the frontlines to be accommodated warmly," he said.

The county-level area of Ejina reported two locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases on Nov 1, the health commission of Inner Mongolia said on Nov 2. Of the 161 confirmed cases currently receiving treatment in the region, 141 were reported in Ejina, according to the commission.