China: Officials adjust movement, gathering controls in Hebei Province, as of Jan. 19 /update 5

Event

Officials in Hebei Province have adjusted movement and transport controls meant to prevent the further spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Stay-at-home orders have been extended in Gu'an County, Langfang. Under the measures, residents are not allowed to leave their communities. However, exceptions are in place for medical, delivery, and other essential workers, provided they have a work certificate from their employer, show personal identification, and have a health code with a negative COVID-19 test result. The controls in Gu'an are set to continue until at least Jan. 25, though extensions are possible.

As of Jan. 19, officials continue to define Shijiazhuang's Gaocheng District, Xinle City, and Nangong City as a high-risk area; the government has closed all nonessential businesses and banned gatherings in the designated areas. Officials have declared 35 other locations in Shijiazhuang, one location in Xingtai, and one location in Langfang as medium risk. Residents of medium-risk areas must quarantine until they receive a negative result from a nucleic acid COVID-19 test. Authorities could expand restrictions to additional areas in the coming days, depending on COVID-19 activity.

Ground transport restrictions continue in multiple areas of Hebei. Nonessential movement to and from Shijiazhuang remains banned. Shijiazhuang has suspended all public transport in the city until further notice. Officials have closed numerous sections of highways in Hebei to nonessential civilian traffic. Authorities have halted ticket sales for trains from Handan, Shijiazhuang, and Xingtai to Beijing through at least Feb. 3. Passengers must present a negative nucleic acid COVID-19 test result obtained in the previous 72 hours to enter Shijiazhuang Station or Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport (SJW). Authorities in Beijing and parts of Shanxi have imposed controls on nonessential passenger transport from Hebei.

Additional security and emergency response personnel have deployed to Hebei to enforce movement controls and conduct health screenings. Authorities will conduct temperature scans and ensure people wear protective face coverings where public transport is operating. Further mass testing in the province is likely.

Authorities in many provinces and cities require people traveling from Hebei to undergo increased health screenings and present evidence of negative COVID-19 test results. Individuals traveling from affected areas of Hebei face quarantine measures upon arrival in most other locations in China. Negative COVID-19 test results are required for travel from parts of Hebei to Beijing. Provincial and municipal governments may advise residents to avoid all nonessential travel to the province.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Remain polite and nonconfrontational if questioned by security personnel. Confirm travel reservations throughout Hebei. Consider deferring nonessential travel to the province as a precaution until localized restrictions are lifted.

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.