Two Japanese employees receive certificates after being released from quarantine at the Hefei National High-tech Industrial Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The Hefei National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, which has among the most foreign-funded enterprises and expats of any place in Anhui province, used a local hotel as a quarantine site in early March for people returning from overseas.

Medical staff from the community health service center, translators from the investment promotion bureau, and police officers from the local police station have been sent to work at the hotel to help manage and provide for people being quarantined there.

"Welcome to the quarantine hotel! I'm Howard from the investment promotion bureau and I live in Room 1027. During your stay here, we will provide you with a safe and comfortable living environment along with our on-site medical staff and police officer. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!"

Translator He Zhiqiang (Howard) will greet new international arrivals to the zone and ask people about their history of travel, residence. close contacts, and personal information.

Staff at the hotel are working around the clock. At 1:30 am on March 13, a worker in the zone who returned recently after an overseas business trip arrived at the hotel, and medical staff are currently waiting to examine his health. They also added him to a group chat for quarantined people.

Hotel staff said that some returnees were worn out after a long trip and felt nervous after seeing medical staff wearing protective clothing. But they understood the importance of the measures and received emotional support from staff.

During the quarantine period, staff will monitor people's health, provide meals, and deliver parcels.

The zone has had no confirmed cases of coronavirus since Feb 14, and Anhui province has had no confirmed cases since March 8.