Epidemic prevention and control is given top priority as Zhuhai is reaching a "critical point" in the fight against COVID-19, said Lin Rituan, deputy secretary general of Zhuhai Municipal People's Government, during a Jan 23 press conference.

As of midnight on Jan 24, the city has no new COVID-19 positive cases for two consecutive days according to the latest figures released by the Zhuhai Health Bureau on Tuesday. Currently, Zhuhai has reported 36 confirmed cases and three asymptomatic cases since Jan 14. 

Jan 23 press conference [Photo by Chen Jiazhe / Zhuhai Daily]

The mechanism for joint pandemic prevention and control between Zhuhai and Macao will be further implemented to mitigate the risk of imported COVID-19 infections. Residents are recommended to stay in the city during the Spring Festival Holiday (Jan 31 to Feb 6), take proper precautions, and avoid inter-provincial travels or trips to medium and high-risk areas if not necessary. 

Unnecessary large-scale activities, such as cultural performances, exhibitions, and temple fairs will also be reduced during the upcoming week-long holiday. Key areas, including citywide residential communities, bus stations, ports, airports, as well as major supermarkets and shopping malls, are under enclosed management.

For people under centralized quarantine, all designated hotels have been equipped with a special management team, an infection-control expert from local hospitals, and a psychologist. Teenagers and children under isolation as close and secondary close contacts are accompanied by one parent.

Eight rounds of mass nucleic acid testing have been carried out in Nanping Town of Xiangzhou District since Jan 13, while those at quarantine sites, including close and secondary close contacts as well as staff members, are required to be tested twice a day. 

A 200-million-yuan ($32-million) fund has been allocated to benefit migrant workers that stay in the city during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and to help companies resume operation after the holiday, reported Guo Liyun, deputy director of Zhuhai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, at the press conference. 

The Zhuhai Municipal Federation of Trade Unions arranged subsidies of 4 million yuan ($631,513) for frontline medical and supporting staff members, 1.4 million yuan ($221,048) for workers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as free mutual medical support for 2,000 migrant workers.