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More people are considering not
returning to their hometowns for the upcoming Spring Festival holiday in
response to appeals to avoid cross-regional travel as the COVID-19
pandemic rebounds. Recently, a number
of confirmed cases and cluster of outbreaks emerged in some areas of
China. As a result, the upcoming travel rush during the Spring Festival
will further burden the prevention and control of the epidemic. About
30 local governments have proposed migrant workers should celebrate the
lunar New Year in the city of their workplace or current residence to
help prevent the spread of the disease. Beijing is one of the places to
take the initiative first. "My
company urges employees to stay on site, but it is not a must," said Liu
Muzhen, who works at a public institution in Beijing. He planned not to
return to his hometown of Xingtai, north China's Hebei province, during
the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. Up
to Jan.18, Hebei province has 800 confirmed cases, according to the
data from the National Health Commission. Deng Suxue, deputy mayor of
Xingtai, said the turning point had not yet arrived at the local level. Liu
said, "I have some classmates who study or work in Beijing. If they
don't go back, we will celebrate the Spring Festival together." Many
local authorities have encouraged companies to offer better benefits to
employees who choose to stay put, such as adopting staggered holiday
schedules, providing subsidies and improving dining conditions. A
company in Ruian, east China's Zhejiang province, promised that each
employee staying in the city for the Spring festival would receive 1,000
yuan. When the pandemic stabilizes, the company will cover the
transportation fee for their employees for family reunion and give them a
paid leave for one week, according to CCTV. Tan
Yuru, who works for an information technology company in Hangzhou
High-tech Zone (Binjiang), Zhejiang province, decided to stay in
Hangzhou for the upcoming Spring Festival despite the absence of new
confirmed cases of COVID-19 in his hometown in east China's Jiangsu
province. "I made this decision after
learning about the policy of my workplace and hometown. Returning later
will have just as much significance. My parents can understand and they
are supportive," Tan said. According
to Xinhua news agency, the Jingxian county government of Anhui province
has suggested that migrant workers can visit any national 3A-level
tourist attraction and above for free during the Spring Festival
holiday. Some sports venues, cultural centers and museums are also on
the list. Wang Tong, a new mother who
works in Shenzhen, said she had no choice but to pick up her baby under
one year old in her hometown Chifeng, Inner Mongolia and bring it to
Shenzhen. "We will start self-isolation at home when we get back.
Everyone should make efforts in keeping the virus at bay," Wang added. Medical
experts have announced various risk warnings. Zhang Boli, a scholar at
the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the cold season was very
suitable for the survival of the virus, and he hoped that people would
not gather during the Spring Festival or travel except in special
circumstances. Seven central
government departments will launch a series of operations to guarantee
migrant workers' welfare and enterprises' production.
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