China: Officials expand stay-at-home orders to Langfang, Hebei Province, as of Jan. 13 /update 4

Event

Officials in Hebei Province have expanded stay-at-home orders to residents of Langfang through at least Jan. 19 to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The provincial government previously issued stay-at-home orders for residents in provincial capital Shijiazhuang and neighboring Xingtai city through at least Jan. 16. 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. As of Jan. 13, authorities continue to define Shijiazhuang's Gaocheng District as a high-risk area; the government has closed all nonessential businesses and banned gatherings in the district. Officials have declared 29 other locations in Shijiazhuang, 10 locations in Xingtai, and one location in Langfang as medium risk. Authorities could expand restrictions to additional areas in the coming days, depending on COVID-19 activity.

Shijiazhuang has suspended all public transport in the city until further notice. Nonessential movement to and from the provincial capital remains banned. Officials have closed numerous sections of highways in Hebei to 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).

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 Hebei face quarantine measures upon arrival in most other locations in China. Provincial and municipal governments could 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.