Officials lead way in reducing worries

As the novel coronavirus outbreak is gradually contained in China, officials in some regions are taking the lead in removing their masks and dining out to show wary residents the worst has passed.

On Friday, Shanghai Vice-Mayor Wu Qing took off his face mask, suggesting others do the same, at an opening ceremony of five foreign financial institutions celebrating their new operations in the city.

"Shanghai has reported no new local infections of novel coronavirus over the past 20 days. It can be said that Shanghai is quite safe now," he said, adding that the recent daily infections reported in the city have been imported cases.

"We're holding this opening ceremony at this very moment to give confidence to everyone, not only to those living in Shanghai, but also people all over the world," Wu said.

On the same day, Lou Qinjian, Party secretary and top official of Jiangsu province, together with other provincial officials, did not wear masks during their indoors meeting, photos of the event show.

In some other regions of China, local administrators are sending a similar message, shopping and dining out to encourage consumption and support local business.

Chongqing Vice-Mayor Li Bo and Zhang Zhihui, head of the municipal commerce commission met at an outdoor hotpot restaurant on March 17 and ordered a combination of signature dishes and seasonal vegetables.

"I have not had a hotpot meal for more than two months. Today I finally satisfied the craving!" Li was quoted by local media as saying.

Restaurants in China have suffered heavily during the coronavirus outbreak. A survey by the China Chain Store & Franchise Association showed that companies suffered losses in the first two months of 2020 worth 9.9 percent of their total business volume of the previous year, which almost equals their full-year profit.

To encourage consumption and boost the economy, many local administrations issued proposals that officials set an example by dining out and help rebuild confidence in the market and consumption.

In Jinan, Shandong province, Zhai Jun, head of the Shanghe county said while entering a local diner "I'll take the lead, so that people have the confidence about the epidemic is being contained."

Beijing News found that by March 20 more than 20 officials in 12 provincial-level regions had taken such actions to restore consumption.

All of the officials strictly followed hygiene protocols: having their temperature taken upon entering business premises, filling in health information charts, and wearing face mask all the time except for while they were eating.

In Shanghai some popular restaurants have begun to see waiting lines for tables. To minimize the risk of spreading the virus, Shanghai restaurants are seating clients farther apart, keeping at least 1 meter between tables.