Beijing Radio & Television Station:

Recently, many localities have issued circulars advocating people to stay where they are currently residing during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, and introduced detailed rules on travelers from high-, medium- and low-risk areas. It is necessary to stay put for the holiday to help prevent and control the pandemic, but will local authorities adopt a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach? Thank you.

Zeng Yixin:

I'd like to answer first, and then I'll give the floor to Ms. Wang Bin to add more information.

As I just said, the current epidemic prevention and control situation remains severe and complicated. All residents in areas at high risk of COVID-19 shall stay where they currently reside to prevent the spread of the virus; in principle, people in medium-risk areas had better stay put, and for those who need to travel under special circumstances, they shall get the permission from the local epidemic prevention and control authorities; people in low-risk areas are advised to avoid traveling unless necessary. We have rolled out a range of targeted anti-virus measures for people from areas with different risk levels who really need to travel, so as to avoid a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach. We suggest local authorities should strengthen epidemic prevention and control with scientific and targeted measures, to guide people returning to their hometowns to cooperate in the implementation of local prevention and control policies. This is a macro-level requirement. Now, I will pass over to Ms. Wang to further answer your question. 

Wang Bin:

As Mr. Zeng just said, we suggest local authorities issue detailed rules to implement anti-virus policies according to local conditions. Zhejiang province is currently dividing rural areas into three areas defined by red, yellow, and blue colors, signifying the number and place of departure of rural returnees. The local government will apply necessary adjustments during the Spring Festival holiday. Guizhou province has encouraged and guided people returning to the countryside to cooperate in the implementation of local prevention and control policies, and increased government subsidies to reduce nucleic acid test fees. Rural returnees will only pay 30 yuan to receive a nucleic acid test, with the other 50 yuan being subsidized by local governments. This can effectively motivate people to cooperate in the implementation of local prevention and control policies.

As you can see, we suggest local authorities should strengthen epidemic prevention and control with scientific and targeted measures and not adopt a blunt, one-size-fits-all approach. We hope that local authorities could provide convenient, friendly, and warm services for the people, and ensure public health and safety during the holiday period. Thank you.