On the afternoon of December 1, Guangzhou held a COVID-19 Prevention and Control Press Conference to brief the latest epidemic situation in the city.

On November 30, Guangzhou reported 6,312 locally acquired COVID-19 cases, among which 61 were found in communities. Meantime, 8,139 people were discharged from (makeshift) hospitals, among the total 49,544 discharged since the outbreak of this round of epidemic.

Zhang Yi, Deputy Director General of the Guangzhou Health Commission, introduced that Guangzhou is still facing a challenging and complex epidemic situation that features multiple cluster outbreaks and numerous transmission chains in various districts. The number of new infections remains high.

Zhang said that Guangzhou has been exploring an effective and suitable strategy for epidemic prevention and control. "COVID-19 response is a holistic and systemic project, and the implementation and lifting of lockdowns are subject to dynamic adjustments." Residents in high-risk areas will still need to undergo mandatory home quarantine and receive door-to-door delivery services. If no new infection is found for five consecutive days since the lockdown, a high-risk area will be adjusted as a low-risk one. Nursing homes, welfare facilities, maternal and child care centers and other key venues shall continue to implement closed-off management measures.

According to Zhang Yi, the existing measures for inbound travelers from outside Guangdong will remain effective: in the first three days upon arriving in Guangzhou, they shall take PCR tests every day and avoid group meals, gatherings, and crowded places. A 48-hour negative PCR testing result will still be required for people leaving Guangzhou.

Zhang Zhoubin, Party Secretary and Spokesperson of the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that no district-wide PCR testing does not mean that there will be no PCR testing. Instead, we have optimized the testing arrangements as follows: regular testing will be conducted among people working in high-risk positions and in key groups; spot-check testing will be performed among key institutions; residents can also get tested when they need to.

According to Zhang Zhoubin, efforts will be made to improve the accuracy of emergency response. For example, only those who have been close to a COVID-19 patient and thus have a high risk of infection will be identified as close contacts. These will include those who live and work with, or have dined, played, hung out, or chatted with someone with COVID-19. Besides, high-risk areas will be designated in a more precise manner, confined to specific blocks or buildings.

Zhang Zhoubin noted that as it is turning cold, there will be a higher incidence of common respiratory diseases. Currently, free flu vaccination is available to people over 65 holding a Guangzhou household registration. Those in need may get vaccinated.

Zhang Zhoubin suggested senior residents totally unvaccinated against COVID-19 should receive the vaccine in time to prevent severe infection. Senior residents who got the second dose over three months ago should get the booster dose in time.

Fu Xiaochu, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Executive Deputy Head of Haizhu District, pointed out that the lifting of the lockdown does not mean that we should drop our guard against the epidemic. A science-based and targeted approach shall be adopted in designating risk areas.Currently, there are 8,368 high-risk areas in Haizhu District, while the rest is managed as low-risk areas.

Haizhu District has strengthened the management of high-risk areas. People pending transference but with positive PCR test results are required not to leave their location unauthorized so that they will not cause risks in community transmission through contact with others.

In terms of daily necessity security, the supply security network has been improved with more efforts put in delivery services. Close attention has been paid to the needs of the elderly, the weak, people with illnesses or disabilities, and pregnant women. With every effort, sufficient supply of daily necessities is ensured for people.

In terms of medical security, 34,700 senior residents, young children, pregnant and lying-in women, and people with chronic diseases have been registered. 46 medical security stations have been set up in an optimal layout, with 55 ambulances, 382 medical workers, and 135 medical security hotlines. Medicine delivery volunteers are designated to each area and serve on duty 24 hours a day.

Fu warned residents that the optimization and adjustment of COVID-19 policies do raise higher requirements on personal protection. All residents shall take the responsibility for their own health and safety. They shall properly wear masks, wash their hands often, avoid gatherings, and practice social distancing.

Chen Xu, Deputy Director General of the Guangzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said that to stabilize the economy, 30 measures have been introduced to coordinate COVID-19 prevention and control and economic stability and 152 measures to stabilize the economy with 99 support measures. From January to October, Guangzhou has granted 746,000 temporary subsidies for rising consumer prices to people in difficulties, totaling RMB 48.39 million. The municipality's total volume of tax and fee cuts, deferrals, and tax refunds has exceeded RMB 90 billion. RMB 505.1 billion has been invested in major projects in the city. Value-added of industrial enterprises with annual revenue of over RMB 20 million has risen by 4.2% and industrial investment has been up by 13.4%.

As a way for Guangzhou to go all out to promote economic recovery and growth, Chen emphasized that support shall be given to as many eligible enterprises in the city as possible to resume work and production; that major projects shall be supported to start as soon as possible and progress as fast as possible; that efforts shall be put to alleviate difficulties for sectors in need, including transportation, culture, sports, entertainment, accommodation, and catering; and that people's essential needs must be met.

"Guangzhou will earnestly implement the essence of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We will sprint to complete the major project construction of the year and make major project plans for next year. We will strive to effectively upgrade and appropriately expand Guangzhou's economic output," said Chen.