A Letter to Foreigners in Suzhou

Greetings friends!

First off, thank you for your long-term contributions to the social and economic development of Suzhou. The COVID-19 pandemic is still raging across much of the world. At the beginning of this Chinese New Year, Suzhou reported multiple confirmed and asymptomatic cases, posing a threat to the city's health. We are now taking prompt, rigorous, decisive and science-based measures to contain the virus, which requires active cooperation from everyone in Suzhou. In order to contain the virus and ensure the health and safety of you and your family, we advise the following:

I. Cooperate with epidemic prevention and control work. Prevention and control work is currently well underway, including medical treatment, epidemiological surveying and tracing, personnel investigation and control, nucleic acid testing, and disinfection of key venues and facilities related to epidemic prevention and control. If a confirmed or positive asymptomatic case of COVID-19 is detected, the CDC will conduct an epidemiological survey and carry out necessary environmental disinfection on site. Please kindly cooperate with any government/community/medical workers who come to you for information.

II. Comply with epidemic prevention and control regulations. Please closely monitor the epidemic situation and enhance self-protection precautions and consideration for others. Leave your house as little as possible and don't leave Suzhou unless you need to. Please follow the notices released by the Suzhou Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Joint Prevention and Control Headquarters during this period.

III. Take proper self-protection measures on a daily basis. Please maintain personal hygiene by wearing a mask, washing hands, airing your house more often, practicing social distancing, etc. If you have fever, cough, fatigue, decreased sense of smell, diarrhea or other suspicious symptoms, report to your community immediately, take proper self-protection measures and seek medical treatment at a nearby fever clinic in a timely manner. Please don't worry or leave your house if your health code turns red or yellow. Immediately reach out to relevant staff at the place where you are staying and cooperate with containment measures.

IV. Follow government social media accounts for the latest updates. Please follow the WeChat account of the Suzhou Municipal People's Government (search "suzhoufabu365" for "苏州发布") or the WeChat account of the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office (search "SuzhouFAO" for "苏州外事") for access to the latest information and prevention measures released by the government. In the face of the outbreak, we must stay calm and reasonable. Try to avoid consuming or spreading misleading information. If you have any questions, please dial the foreign-related prevention and control hotline 0512-68358782.

We can overcome the pandemic only by working together. Every person counts in this battle, so please be cooperative. The epidemic in Suzhou will eventually be brought under control. Thanks again for your cooperation and support for the COVID-19 response of Suzhou.

Foreign Affairs Office of Suzhou Municipal People's Government

Feb 17, 2022