On the afternoon of November 2, three people in Changzhou, who were close contacts of confirmed cases in another province, tested positive for COVID-19. According to the requirements for epidemic prevention and control in Changzhou, this notice hereby specifies the following rules:

1. Please do not leave the city unless necessary. Anyone leaving the city must provide a negative nucleic acid test certificate issued within 48 hours of their departure.

2. People using public transportation should keep the mask on and cooperate in temperature and health code checks.

3. People in areas marked as medium or high risk for COVID-19 or under lockdown should not leave their residences or have any gatherings.

4. Please cooperate in taking nucleic acid tests as required, and wear a mask and keep a distance of at least one meter from each other throughout the process.

5. Those coming or returning to Changzhou from medium or high-risk areas or those whose travel histories overlap any confirmed cases or asymptomatic patients within 14 days should inform their communities or hotels as soon as possible. Protocols should be followed, such as providing information, taking nucleic acid tests, and undergoing health monitoring.

6. Cancel or postpone large gatherings like concerts, sports events, and carnivals. Call off meetings, celebrations, exhibitions, seminars, training sessions, or job fairs held online. Those having wedding or funeral plans should report to their communities in advance. It is highly recommended to delay and limit the size of such events.

7. Maintain stringent measures for infection prevention and control in public areas, including shopping malls, supermarkets, food markets, hotels, restaurants, and transportation hubs. Schools, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, orphanages, and other key institutions should be closed to the public. Scenic spots, movie theaters, museums, libraries, game rooms, beauty salons, public baths, massage shops, ballrooms, gyms, bars, cybercafes, and other indoor recreational areas should close temporarily. Off-campus training institutes are required to call off their offline services.

8. Governments, state-owned institutions, private businesses, and other entities should implement stringent measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19, such as taking employees� temperatures, checking their health codes, and registering visitors' information.

9. To contain the spreading of coronavirus in communities, the relevant officials, healthcare professionals, police officers, and volunteers should work together to fulfill duties like registering residents� or visitors� information and checking their temperatures and health and travel history codes upon their departure or arrival.

10. Any healthcare institutions without fever clinics shall not receive or treat any patients showing symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, sore throat, reduced sense of smell and taste, conjunctivitis (pink eye), muscle pain, and diarrhea. Hospitals at or above level 2, except their emergency and fever clinics, should launch online appointments and limit patient visits and care partners. Local retail pharmacies should stop selling antifebriles, antitussives, antivirals, and antibiotics.

11. Please maintain good habits for health such as wearing a mask and keeping a social distance when going out, washing hands regularly, ventilating rooms more often, and avoiding gatherings. Seek medical treatment in line with regulatory procedures as soon as possible when symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, sore throat, reduced sense of smell and taste, conjunctivitis (pink eye), muscle pain, and diarrhea show. Keep the mask on and avoid using public transport when seeking treatment. Inform medical staff of your whereabouts and contact history over the previous 14 days. People who are eligible for vaccination should get inoculated as soon as possible.

The above measures for epidemic prevention and control will be implemented starting from November 3, 2021. All should abide by laws and regulations. Do not listen to or spread rumors and untrue reports concerning the coronavirus outbreak. Those who violate the above rules will be punished according to the law. The government will update relevant regulations according to the COVID-19 risk assessment by authorities.

Changzhou Municipal Epidemic Prevention and Control Center of Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus

November 3, 2021