Businesses resume full production in Qingdao

Businesses began resuming production in Qingdao, Shandong province on Feb 10 after the Lunar New Year holiday, which was extended due to the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, while the city continues to battle the epidemic.

A number of businesses in Qingdao, particularly those involved in infrastructure services, important health and energy supplies, and logistics, have already resumed production. The city has also resumed work on major projects.

According to official statistics, 2,941 (or 86.4 percent of) industrial enterprises above designated scale in the coastal city resumed production on Feb 10, while 112 (or 77.7 percent of) key small and medium-sized enterprises reopened.

Local authorities said that a slew of measures have been implemented to ensure that all workers have access to virus prevention equipment and that workplaces are hygienic, with the goal of preventing infections in the workplace.

"We have taken measures to prepare for the resumption of work under the guidance of the Management Committee of the Jiaozhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. We have made prevention and control plans for office areas, workshops, restaurants, shuttle buses, and dormitories, stocked up on anti-epidemic supplies, and organized employee self-protection training," said Boy Schallert, general manager of Alfa Laval Qingdao Ltd, a manufacturer of electrical power equipment.

Workshops and construction sites are being disinfected four times a day and workers are being required to wear masks on duty. Workers are also having their temperatures checked twice a day, local authorities said.

On Feb 3, the Qingdao government rolled out 18 new policies related to recruitment, tax breaks, and financial support in a bid to boost the development of local enterprises. Local government departments also pledged to offer solutions to companies facing difficulties related to logistics, employment, and more.

The city is also using online channels to accelerate business cooperation and attract investment and talent despite the epidemic, local authorities said.