Xiqing district strives to meet the needs of foreign workers during COVID-19 outbreak

Xiqing district in Tianjin has arranged support services for the 1,178 foreign nationals working, studying and living in the area.

According to Bai Fengxiang, head of the district, as of March 5, a total of 1,178 foreigners were in Xiqing district. Of these, 862 - 73.1 percent - are Koreans, 45 are Japanese and three are Italian.

Foreigners returning to the district are welcomed by local staff who have been appointed by the local government to take care of foreigners’ daily issues.

For example, in residential communities with large numbers of foreigners, special groups have been established to help in a number of areas, including picking people up at airports, providing buses for going home, translators, staff for monitoring temperatures twice a day, and daily services such as supply delivery, medical care and garbage disposal.

Xiqing is home to 477 foreign companies, including 148 Korean, 121 Japanese, and 10 Italian businesses. All foreign enterprises above designated scale - that is, with an annual sales revenue surpassing 20 million yuan ($2.84 million) - have resumed work.

On March 1, the South Korean ambassador and the staff of the Korea Chamber of Commerce in Tianjin, accompanied by Bai, visited the centralized quarantine centers. The South Korean contingent appreciated the arrangements that had been made by the local government.

The head of the district spoke highly of the role played by foreign workers and companies in helping the district in the prevent and control of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Since the begin of the outbreak, South Korean companies have donated money and preventive supplies to the district. Paris Baguette, a popular South Korean bakery, donated 500,000 yuan to the area.

The district also purchased large quantities of virus protection goods from the country.

In paying back the support and friendship of their South Korean friends, Xiqing has made a committed effort to provide superior management and warm services for foreign residents in quarantine.

The district accommodates the choices of foreigners to either stay at home for a 14-day quarantine or go to central centers.

There are currently 360 foreign nationals in isolation: 343 Koreans, four Japanese, one Italian, and 12 other nationalities. The epidemic prevention and control measures for foreign personnel in the region have been delivered in an orderly manner.

Schools are also planning to provide courses online from March 16.