Jiangsu, Zhejiang help quarantine COVID-19 cases' close contacts from Shanghai

Many people who were transferred from Shanghai to neighboring Jiangsu province were surprised to receive flowers and snacks as welcoming gifts in their quarantine rooms.

Chen Si, who is now under quarantine in Wuxi, Jiangsu, said that she was overwhelmed with joy when she noticed a bunch of white and yellow roses on the room's table.

"I didn't expect such a good quarantine environment with bright sunshine, clean sheets and fragrant smell," she said.

"I also received many snacks, such as dried beef, chips, peanuts and coffee. The hotel also presented us a stick-shaped tool with soft comb on top, which can be used to massage the head, back and legs."

As of 6 pm Thursday, the province had received 4,733 close contacts of confirmed and asymptomatic cases in Shanghai. Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the two neighboring provinces of the megacity, will each provide 30,000 rooms to quarantine contacts of COVID-19 sufferers from Shanghai.

So far, Jiangsu has provided 16,000 rooms in nine of its 13 cities, and the rest will be sourced soon, according to the provincial leading group for COVID-19 prevention and control.

All the rooms must meet strict standards for epidemic prevention quarantine, including on sterilization, ventilation and staff training, according to the provincial leading group.

All the people involved in the transferring process, such as the contacts, drivers of vehicles deployed for the transfer and other people onboard, must have a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 24 hours before departure and undergo a 14-day quarantine free of charge, according to Shanghai authorities.

However, eight groups of people, including pregnant women, children and people with mental illnesses will not be transferred, as the Shanghai government will provide places for centralized quarantine and guarantee their basic needs.

Jiangsu Party Secretary Wu Zhenglong said at an epidemic prevention meeting on Wednesday that it is Jiangsu's responsibility to help Shanghai and the country to put COVID-19 under control.

"To support Shanghai is to protect Jiangsu," said Wu.

"The province will stand by Shanghai and make all-out efforts to help Shanghai curb the pandemic and ensure the supply of daily necessities."

He ordered all departments in the province to guarantee closed-loop management of all workers assisting Shanghai, and make sure their families are taken care of.