Staff members at designated centralized isolation hotels in Taiyuan put up posters with self-protection tips targeting COVID-19 prevention and control, on March 26. [Photo/official WeChat account of Taiyuan Release]
Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, has been providing high-quality and secure medical services for people returning home amid the current novel coronavirus epidemic circumstances, according to the Taiyuan health commission.
On entering China through Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, the returnees have been sent to designated centralized isolation hotels by special vehicles and immediately received temperature and nucleic acid tests, according to Zhang Ze, deputy director of the Taiyuan health commission.
Taiyuan arranged more than 50 quarantine hotels to settle the travelers, with medics on duty at each hotel.
Each group of medics at the hotels manages 30 people. For senior citizens, children and pregnant women, medics have been carrying out daily visits to conduct psychological counseling and past medical history surveys so as to relieve nervousness during quarantine, said Ren Yanping, executive vice president of Xiaodian district's medical group.
A letter of gratitude by a person who returned to China from overseas and is receiving 14-day quarantine at a hotel in Taiyuan [Photo/official WeChat account of Taiyuan Release]
Ms Sun who arrived in Taiyuan on March 21 by air from Canada was quickly transferred to a designated centralized isolation hotel by an ambulance in 10 minutes and was resting soon after settling in her quarantine facilities.
"The hotel where I stayed prepared daily necessities needed in advance for isolation and I can buy what I need online and special staff members of the hotel deliver the purchases to my room," Sun said.
"I cannot see their work but I can feel it. The 14-day centralized quarantine is our homeland's concern for us and a kind of protection for our family members."
Another returnee surnamed Su expressed her gratitude during the quarantine period in Taiyuan.
"A doctor dressed in protective clothing rushed to my room as soon as I called for help when feeling sick. The doctor's words were so warm that my strangeness to the environment, anxiety and physical sickness were greatly relieved," she said.
There were quite a few people in quarantine in the hotel where Su stayed and everyone wants to take a group photo after quarantine period to show their appreciation for Taiyuan which offered them warmth, according to Su.
A chef at a centralized isolation hotel prepares meals for people in quarantine in hotels in Taiyuan, on March 27. [Photo/official WeChat account of Taiyuan Release]
The Taiyuan health commission officials explained that if anyone has diseases other than the novel coronavirus pneumonia during the quarantine period, they will get quality medical services at the especially established ward in Taiyuan Central Hospital.
Also, Taiyuan has been preparing a medical expert team made up of doctors from Taiyuan Central Hospital to offer free consultation services for people returning back to China from overseas.
Nucleic acid testing is free of charge for people during the quarantine period. Once other illnesses occur, they can enjoy medical insurance preferential policies if they have China's medical insurance. Otherwise, people have to pay medical expenses themselves, added Zhang Ze, deputy director of the Taiyuan health commission.
Taiyuan will also arrange a hotel to settle foreigners entering the city recently and provide them with services including translations and catering.
As of March 26, a total of seven international flights had stopped in Taiyuan with 2,131 passengers and crew members in quarantine.