An Open Letter to Foreign Nationals in Dongguan

At present, COVID-19 continues ravaging the world as Dongguan has recently reported newly confirmed cases. Currently, we are taking swift and decisive actions to curb the spread of the virus. All of our approaches are science-based, and we rely on concerted efforts from every resident in our city. Foreign nationals have always been important members of our community as your health and safety has always been our priority. We now urge you to take the following actions:

First, support our control and prevention policies. Dongguan is taking measures to ensure unbiased services by medical institutions to all members of our society. At this moment, our healthcare professionals are working around the clock, treating patients, tracing contacts, conducting COVID-19 tests, and disinfecting key areas within the city. If you are approached by government employees, community managers, or healthcare workers, please support their work by answering their questions truthfully. Our control and prevention professionals might also need to clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces touched by people who test positive. We urge you to postpone or cancel large-scale events and suspend non-essential group activities. Be cautious when you invite guests to your private residence. Family gatherings must be limited to 10 people.

Second, get vaccinated. Widespread vaccinations are a critical tool to achieve herd immunity. We recommend that you and your family get vaccinated to protect yourself and others, unless special circumstances prevent you from doing so. Please consult a healthcare provider to assess the risks.

Third, follow the updates from official outlets. We recommend that you follow these public accounts on WeChat: Dongguan CDC (东莞疾控), Dongguan Foreign Affairs (东莞外事), and Dongguan Health Bureau (东莞市卫生健康局). Do not trust nor spread unverified information. If you need multilingual services on COVID-19, please contact our hotlines:

English：22830651，22830643，22830632；

Japanese：22830635；

Korean：22830616；

Thai：22830640；

French：22830691；

German：22830643.

Fourth, stay safe by taking proper precautions, such as social distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands. These are still the most simple and effective ways to curb the spread of the virus. If you have a fever or cough, please visit the fever clinic and voluntarily offer the necessary information. Pay attention to food safety, and purchase frozen food only from authorized supermarkets. If you have been to high or medium-risk areas or key sites for epidemic control, or if you have contacted people from these areas, report to your community or your employer and pay attention to your health status. Avoid visiting any medium-risk areas. If you need to leave Dongguan, it is required to present a negative result of PCR test conducted within 48 hours.

We firmly believe that with concerted efforts of Chinese and foreign residents in Dongguan, we will prevail against COVID-19 and safeguard our health.

Dongguan Foreign Affairs Bureau

June 22nd, 2021