A Letter to All Foreign Friends in Shandong on Epidemic Prevention and control from the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government

Jan 30, 2020

Since the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Shandong Provincial People's Government have firmly implemented the principles of major instructions and requirements made by General Secretary Xi Jinping and decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. During the holiday, government officials have been on duty, medical staff has worked diligently, and epidemic prevention and control have been well-implemented in the province. Shandong activated Level I Public Health Emergency Response on Jan 25. Since then, the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Shandong Provincial People's Government have taken the health and safety of foreign friends in the province very seriously, held multiple special meetings, and formulated plans and measures. The Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government has coordinated foreign affairs resources of the province and promptly published related information to effectively implement prevention and control measures. Foreign friends in Shandong are advised to follow prevention and control measures adopted by governments of all levels in the province. For any request on the epidemic prevention and control, please contact the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government through consulate generals in Shandong and other channels.

Hereby we recommend the following practices to all foreign friends in Shandong:

I. Follow official information release. Visit the official website of Shandong Provincial Health Commission or follow "sdswsjkw" (the official WeChat account run by Shandong Provincial Health Commission) for the epidemic updates, the list of designated hospitals in Shandong, and prevention and control guide. You can also call the 24-hour hotline of Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention: 0531-88738367 or 0531-88737580.

II. Strengthen prevention and self-protection. Keep good hygiene by washing hands frequently. Wear a mask and dispose of used masks properly according to regulations. Keep proper ventilation and rooms clean. Avoid close contact with any wild animals or birds. Eggs and meat must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

III. Minimize outdoor activities. Avoid crowded places, parties and group activities. Correctly wear a mask (preferably, a surgical mask) if you have to go and attend. See a doctor with your mask on in designated medical institutions in Shandong in case of fever, cough, chest pain or fatigue.

IV. Strictly follow isolation procedures. If you have lived in, visited or traveled to seriously infected areas, or if you have been in close contact with people who came back from epidemic areas and have shown respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough, please stay at home to observe your health condition for 14 days starting from the last day of your stay in infected areas or your contact with the above-mentioned people with respiratory symptoms. Please cooperate with government or community personnel or medical staff if they inquire about your condition.

V. Go to a designated hospital in time. Major symptoms of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) include fever, fatigue and cough. Upper respiratory symptoms such as nasal obstruction or running nose are rarely seen. For some patients, the symptoms begin mildly, even without a fever. If you have respiratory symptoms such as fever or cough, please go to the fever clinic of the nearest hospital designated by the municipal health commission with a mask on as soon as possible and do not go to other departments of the hospital.

The Chinese government has confidence and ability in controlling the epidemic. The Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government would like to express our deep appreciation to all the foreigners in Shandong for supporting our epidemic prevention and control efforts in different ways. Let us all wish for the best, do our utmost, and join hands in securing a final victory in the battle against the epidemic!

Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government