Heilongjiang officials help residents via livestreaming

In recent days, Dong Hongyu and Qu Xinyu spend most of their time on the livestreaming app Kuaishou in their office, giving direct and rapid replies to various questions raised by locals about how to prevent and control the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Dong, deputy director of the emergency management bureau of Yanshou county, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, and his colleague Qu, started the live-streaming service on Sunday.

They now have thousands of followers and have countless messages on the platform, receiving plenty of praise from netizens.

"Most questions were about traffic controls and we tried our best to give them proper answers or solutions," said Dong. "For instance, some farmers need to purchase fodder and prepare for the spring planting, and some patients need to go out to seek medical treatment."

"Furthermore, netizens are also concerned about preventing the virus, such as how to wash hands scientifically," he said. "With the help of some common knowledge we have prepared, we can provide them some suggestions."

They also repeatedly told those who decided to return to Yanshou from other places recently to quarantine themselves at home for at least two weeks.

Some netizens sent virtual gifts on the platform for their patience and carefulness.

"We don't need gifts but need more attention and spread of the information we offer, which may help more locals," said Dong. "Despite being exhausted for sitting more than 12 hours' in front of a mobile phone, we will fight until the day we finally win the battle against the epidemic."