Concerned that migrant workers, particularly those from the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in Hubei Province, might return to jobs in Zhuhai next week with infections, the city government is taking extraordinary precautions.

As of Tuesday, 50 of 64 confirmed infections had arrived from out of town, it was reported at a Feb 4 online press conference on the city's epidemic prevention and control. Not only migrant workers, but the arrangements also concern students, medical backup, and market regulation in response to the potential hike in (2019-nCoV) infections expected with the massive post-holiday flow of people. The 15-day Lunar New Year ends on Saturday with the Lantern Festival.

Accordingly, temperatures of all travelers will be taken at citywide Intercity MRT stations, coach depots, airports, and Macao-bound checkpoints. The screening and monitoring of Hubei workers in enterprises and the construction sector will be especially intense. People arriving from Hubei Province after the holiday are required to register upon arrival and remain isolated for 14 days.

Wash hands frequently [Photo by Zhang Yifan / Zhujiang Evening Post]

In terms of medical resources, a contingency plan has designated alternate hospitals and more than 800 beds in reserve, as well as over 2,000 doctors, nurses, and medical technicians on standby, said Xu Chaolong, director of the Health Bureau.

Shi Xuebin, director of the Market Regulation Bureau, said that most pharmacies in the city are in short supply of facemasks, ethanol for disinfection, and other disinfectants. Nonetheless, the prices of all sorts of daily necessities are stable, and authorities have increased price regulation and monitoring. As of Feb 3, twenty cases of price gouging and fraud had been investigated and adjudicated.

Residents are advised not to take public transport for work, and if they must, then to wear masks and avoid touching inside surfaces. They should cooperate in having their temperatures taken before entering office buildings and keep their masks on in elevators, canteens, and conference rooms.

Upon returning home, everyone should wash hands after taking off the masks, wipe cellphones and keys with antiseptic wet tissues or ethanal alcohol at a concentration of 75 percent, keep residences clean and with good airflow, avoid going out or attending gatherings, exercise regularly, and get ample sleep.

Students can take online classes at home to keep up with the normal learning process as the opening date of schools has been postponed, according to Lin Rituan, head of the Education Bureau.