As of 8 am on Jan 20, 28 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Zhuhai, namely 25 confirmed and three asymptomatic. For public benefit, here are the official answers to some of the frequently asked questions concerning nucleic acid tests, ticket refunds, health code, and more.

Q: Can I skip citywide compulsory mass nucleic acid test as I've done a self-paying one? Will my health code turn yellow if my third test is done at my own expense instead of the mass test?

A: Your health code will not change as long as you finished three tests consecutively from Jan 16 to 18 and received negative results, no matter if they were done in mass or self-paying tests. 

Q: What if my health code turned yellow for not participating in the three-round compulsory mass nucleic acid tests as I live in other cities in Guangdong or even outside Guangdong?

A: You can go to local designated sites for nucleic acid tests and your health code will turn green automatically with negative results for those in Guangdong. People outside Guangdong will have to upload their test results to the national health code platform to get a green health code. 

Nucleic acid test [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zhuhaifabu]

Q: Which hospitals in Zhuhai currently still offer outpatient services?

A: Certain departments of some hospitals are temporarily closed due to the pandemic. Residents can check and make reservations on the public WeChat account of hospitals before going.

Q: Are there any requirements for people when buying medicine? Can I buy cold or fever medications?

A: People who purchase medicine at Zhuhai's retail pharmacies must provide green health and travel codes, as well as negative novel coronavirus test results. They must also properly wear masks and have their body temperature checked. 

A list of 37 medicines for upper respiratory tract infection is under strict control for sales and has even been halted in controlled areas. Those who want to purchase the listed medicines have to provide their ID cards, phone numbers, and negative novel coronavirus test results. Their information will be uploaded to the provincial supervision system. 

Q: What if special groups like expectant mothers in controlled areas need medical treatment?

A: Zhuhai has established a three-tier medical treatment network and those in need can reach out to medical groups in their communities for further guidance.

Q: How can people change or refund tickets for flights, trains, or coaches that leave from Zhuhai?

A: Flight tickets can be changed or refunded according to Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport's latest regulations, which are released on its official website and Sina Weibo. 

Ticket sales and rebooking services on 12306, a mobile application and website, will be extended from 11:30 pm to 1 am, except for Tuesdays. The services open to the public at 5 am every day. Self-service ticket-selling terminal machines are available at railway stations for passengers to handle ticket change and refund services. Tourists can also handle ticket refunding around the clock on the website or app up to the time the train departs from the station. Previously, travelers were only allowed to get ticket refunds up to 25 minutes before the train departed.

For those who need to refund coach tickets, it is recommended to use the same channel that they purchased the tickets on. For tickets that have passed the departure time, they can be refunded at ticket-selling counters of passenger terminals after they resume operation. 

Q: Can companies dissolve labor contracts with those fail to work regularly due to the pandemic? How do impacted workers get paid?

A: No, companies are not allowed to dissolve labor contracts with these workers. Employees that are able to work as usual online or via phone will get paid as usual, as well as those who use their vacation time during this period when their return to work has been delayed. Others who couldn't resume work will get paid within one payment period. In that case, enterprises have to pay living expenses, which should not be lower than 80 percent of the local minimum wage standard, to those staff members not getting regular pay after one payment period. 

Q: Do employers have to pay those staff members if they are subject to centralized quarantine?

A: According to the Law on the Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases of the People's Republic of China, employers shall not stop the payment of wages for the persons under quarantine during the period of isolation nor dissolve their labor contracts.