In the past month, the COVID-19 virus has been spreading in China. Several cities have been locked down, with a total of 29 millions people impacted. Out of the total 32 provinces in China, 29 have asked people to stay where they are and not to travel during the Chinese New Year.
#1: As of January 18, 2021, the Chinese government announced 4 high-risk areas and 88 medium-risk areas, all in Beijing, Hebei Province, and the three Northeastern provinces – Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.
The high-risk areas are:
- Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province (河北省石家庄市藁城区)
- Xinle City, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province (河北省石家庄市新乐市)
- Nangong Shi, Xingtai City, Hebei Province (河北省邢台市南宫市)
- Huiqi Township, Wangkui County, Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省绥化市望奎县惠七镇)
The Medium-risk areas are in the following cities:
- Beijing City (with 6 medium-risk areas)
- Tonghua City, Jilin Province (20)
- Changchun City, Jilin Province (11)
- Langfang City, Hebei Province (1)
- Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province (35)
- Xingtai City, Hebei Province (1)
- Dalian City, Liaoning Province (3)
- Shenyang City, Liaoning Province (2)
- Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province (4)
- Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province (1)
- Hehei City, Heilongjiang Province (3)
- Tsitsihar City, Heilongjiang Province (1)
#2: By January 11, 29 out of the 32 provincial administrations in China have asked people to stay in their current location (do not travel or go back to your hometown) for Chinese New Year (February 12, 2021). Traditionally, Chinese people return to their hometown or go to their parent’s home to celebrate Chinese New Year. Beijing was the first to launch the “stay in current location” initiative. (Xinhua)
#3: Local governments provided different incentives to get people to stay where they, including rent reductions, subsidies, and offering of free bus rides, free data on the Internet, free movie tickets, and free entrance tickets to tourist sites. (VOA)
Related postings on Chinascope:
1. Source: Guangdong Province Website, January 18, 2021
http://www.gd.gov.cn/gdywdt/zwzt/yqfk/content/post_3021711.html
2. Excerpt in Chinese:
今冬明春疫情防控形势依然严峻复杂，截至1月11日15时，已有29个省份倡议就地过年。北京市在全国第一个提出了“就地过年”的倡议。天津、上海、重庆、河北等省份发出倡议，主要内容为外地务工人员“非必要不返乡”，本地居民“非必要不出省”“各企事业单位错峰离岗返乡、实行弹性休假制度”等。
Source: Xinhua, January 11, 2021
http://www.xinhuanet.com/multimediapro/2021-01/11/c_1210975216.htm
3. Excerpt in Chinese:
中国各地推出奖励措施，鼓励留在当地的人员。奖励措施五花八门，包括调降房屋租金、发放补贴、免费坐公车、送上网流量、免费看电影、免景点门票等。
另据中国官方媒体新华网1月18日消息，拥有约100万人口的吉林省公主岭市当天起实施“最严格的封控措施”。截至目前，在这波最新疫情中因封控措施受到影响的总人口超过2900万。
Source: VOA, January 19, 2021
https://www.voachinese.com/a/China-reports-more-than-100-new-covid-cases-as-New-Year-holiday-exodus-looms-20210118/5742108.html