Chongqing- Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality issued a notice on ensuring the service guarantee for people spending the Chinese New Year locally, according to a press conference on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic held on February 9.

A press conference on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic is held on February 9. (iChongqing/ Vivian Yan)

By implementing the national epidemic prevention and control requirements, regulating the management of mobile personnel, strengthening the service guarantee for local citizens, and enhancing different levels of care and supports for people during the Spring Festival, which falls on February 12, Chongqing will make sure its citizens to spend a happy, peaceful, healthy and safe Chinese New Year, said Luo Lin, deputy secretary-general and spokesperson of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government.

By strictly following the measures of "going out, moving around, and gathering out less," Chongqing targets to guide the crowd to celebrate the Spring Festival in a reasonable and orderly manner. Specifically, personnel from government agencies, institutions, and state-owned enterprises proactively take the lead in celebrating the Spring Festival in Chongqing. Other practices include encouraging migrant workers in Chongqing, as well as teachers and students who have not yet left school to celebrate the Spring Festival in the city, and guiding migrant workers that are working outside the city to stay in their places during the Spring Festival.

Besides, the relevant government departments will make every effort to guarantee the people's daily necessities in Chongqing and ensure the transportation of water, electricity, and gas will be assured and accommodated if required. Other everyday essentials, including a wide range of food and consumer products, will also be kept in stock to further meet people's diverse demands during the Spring Festival.

Meanwhile, the relevant government departments will strengthen the supervision on food safety, product price, and quality, severely crack down any violation of laws and regulations and ensure quality, safety, and price on different commodities.

Public activity spaces, including tourist attractions, libraries, museums, theaters, parks, and stadiums, will continue to be open to the public under the premise of strictly implementing epidemic prevention and control requirements. This is to further meet the cultural needs of people in Chongqing during the Spring Festival. Specifically, more than 200 A-level tourist attractions will be open to the public, with the relevant online appointment system to be implemented.

“There are no outsiders in the prevention and control of infectious diseases such as the COVID-19,” said Dr. Su Kun, an epidemiologist from the Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “We should not be panic in facing the COVID-19 epidemic, and everyone must pay attention to the measures and requirements for epidemic prevention and control.” Dr. Su continued, only through this way we will be able to celebrate the Spring Festival safely and healthily.

Body temperature checking. (iChongqing file photo)