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March 31, 2020

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Keeping Chinese abroad informed

A video lecture about the novel coronavirus pandemic was delivered yesterday by a Shanghai disease prevention and control expert to overseas Chinese and Chinese students in Hungary.

The lecture was organized by the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, the Shanghai Health Commission and the Embassy of China in Hungary.

It is the latest in a series of such live broadcast to Chinese living overseas.

Sun Xiaodong, deputy director of Shanghai’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, shared Shanghai’s experience in fighting against COVID-19 and the situation in the city with the Chinese community in Hungary, including entrepreneurs, teachers and students.

He stressed the importance of wearing masks and washing hands regularly and avoiding public gatherings.

He said 70 to 80 percent of the 339 local cases in Shanghai were infected in gatherings of families, colleagues and friends.

He said that timely strict measures and enforcement are key to control the disease according to experiences in Shanghai and the whole Chinese mainland.

Some listeners said many Hungarians are sporting outdoors and kids are also playing in parks, where there are mosquitoes and insects. So they worried about whether it is OK to have such outdoor activities.

Mosquitoes no threat

Sun said there’s no evidence to prove that mosquitoes or insects can transmit the novel coronavirus. There is neither sufficient evidence for airborne transmission.

So far, it is only believed it can be transmitted via droplets among people within 1 meter.

As long as people can keep 1 to 2 meters away from each other, they can exercise or take a walk outdoors, even without a mask.

But inside buildings, central air-conditioning systems should be turned off now and it’s also important to open windows for ventilation.

Also, some people heard there have been reports that people of certain blood types are more likely to get infected.

But Sun said there was no indication certain types were more susceptible.

Sun advised against being over-stressed and to seek counselling for stress.

Shanghai’s experience shows the disease can be prevented, controlled and cured. Some with light symptoms can even recover by themselves.

But with the pandemic improving, people are likely to relax their vigilance.

Sun said the virus is not yet fully understood, such as the problem of airborne transmission and people carrying the virus without symptoms. He advised his audience to remain alert.

According to Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Duan Jielong, there have been 447 confirmed cases and 15 deaths in Hungary.

He said the Hungarian government has responded swiftly to order a state of emergency in connection with protective measures, with restaurants, entertainment venues and other public places closed, but normal work is going on.

“After the virus broke out in Hungary, the Chinese community, including Chinese students, has actively organized events to learn about the virus and protection measures and also joined local people in preventing spread of the virus,” he said.

“There are over 40,000 Chinese Hungarians, 3,000 Chinese students and 400 to 500 employees of Chinese enterprises. None of them has been found to be infected.

“We are thankful for Shanghai’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention to deliver this speech to share professional knowledge and experience in coronavirus prevention.”




 

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