Shanghai municipality's assistance hotlines for expats

Health consulting hotline: 021-12320 (Shanghai health hotline), 12345

Foreigner's work permit consulting hotline: 8008205114

By calling the Shanghai Call Center at 962288, a dedicated information hotline, foreigners in Shanghai can make inquiries about masks, current coronavirus containment efforts and other epidemic-related details.

During the Spring Festival holiday in January 2020, the hotline received thousands of inquiries, most of which were about buying masks.

Apart from 24-hour English services, the hotline provides services in French, Japanese, German, Russian, Spanish and Arabic. Agents receiving calls will teach foreigners how to make appointments for buying masks at home and how to prepare for materials required for the appointments.