Circular of SIP 2019-nCoV prevention & control headquarters on further promoting safe and orderly resumption of enterprise operations amid the 2019-nCoV outbreak

To SIP’s functional zones, departments, committees, offices and bureaus and related units,

In accordance with the latest instructions of the country’s central government and the governments of Jiangsu province and Suzhou city on prevention and control of the currently widespread pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), all the enterprises, except for those with operations necessary for public services, control of the epidemic and production of essential living supplies as well as those with operations of great significance for the national economy and people’s livelihood, shall not resume operations earlier than 24:00 , February 9. Led by CPC SIP Working Committee and SIP Administrative Committee, SIP 2019-nCoV Prevention & Control Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the Headquarters)’ Business Steering Group (BSG) has been offering SIP-based enterprises advice and help for their resumption of operations and anti-epidemic measures, and the efforts have shown good effects so far. Based on the Circular of the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province on Enhancing the 2019-nCoV Epidemic Prevention and Control (SFYFK No. 3 [2020]) and the Circular of the People’s Government of Suzhou on Issuing Regulations (Trial) on Resumption of Enterprise Operations during the 2019-nCoV Outbreak (SFK No.4 [2020]), we hereby propose the following requirements to ensure effective epidemic prevention and control after local enterprises’ resumption of operations from February 10, and make sure that we will win the battle against the virus.

I. Ensure safe and orderly resumption of enterprise operations

1. Resumption registration: Enterprises shall submit their application documents for resuming operations to BSG at least three days in advance. The application documents shall include details about their resumption plans and countermeasures against the epidemic. Upon approval of BSG, the applicants can restart operations. Enterprises shall not resume their operations without the BSG’s approval.

2. Categorized review and approval: BSG will conduct categorized review and approval of enterprises’ applications with priorities given to industrial enterprises, Category A and B enterprises ranking top in terms of intensive use of resources, enterprises with fewer employees and enterprises planning to temporarily only involve employees who stayed in Suzhou during the Spring Festival holiday in their resumed operations. Concurrently, BSG will issue guides to help enterprises in commercial office buildings to resume their operations and adopt effective epidemic prevention and control measures.

3. Enterprises’ organization for orderly resumption of operations: Enterprises shall give priority to employees who stayed in Suzhou during the Spring Festival holiday and had no contact with people from Hubei, Wenzhou, Taizhou and other areas seriously affected by the epidemic in their early-stage operations after the resumption, and make proper arrangement for employees back from areas outside Suzhou to stay home for quarantine and go back to work if no abnormalities in their health were identified. Employees who are still staying in the above-mentioned areas shall get back to Suzhou according to future notifications. For employees who have already returned to Suzhou from these areas, the employers concerned shall urge them to conduct a 14-day medical observation and those with no abnormalities in their health after the medical observation can go back to work. People from areas other than the above-mentioned areas shall conduct a 7-day quarantine before going back to work. Enterprises can encourage employees outside Suzhou to drive back to SIP or send vehicles to pick them up to ensure their safety.

4. Enhancement of inspections: Enterprises shall take initiative to support and join the fight against the epidemic. Enterprises shall adopt effective measures for the epidemic prevention and control and safe production after resuming operations, and spare no efforts to prevent any accidents caused by rush work schedules. BSG will conduct random inspections over local enterprises, and urge enterprises involved in operation resumption without approval and lack of effective preventive measures and those with identified 2019-nCoV cases to suspend their operations immediately and make rectifications. Property management units of SIP’s business carriers and industrial parks shall be responsible for management of local enterprises for epidemic prevention and control.

II. Requirements for epidemic prevention and control after resumption of operations

Based on the Hygienic Guide of Jiangsu Province for Industrial Enterprises to Prevent and Control Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus (Trial) (See Annex 1, and enterprises in commercial office buildings please refer to relevant guides for epidemic prevention and control), enterprises shall employ clear accountability mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures before and after the resumption of their operations and give fast response if any infection is detected. The enterprises’ epidemic countermeasures shall be able to guarantee enough necessary supplies, venues, personnel and fund for their operations. Specifically, the enterprises shall fulfill the following requirements:

1. Establish anti-epidemic working groups. Enterprises resuming operations before Jiangsu government withdraws the level I public health emergency response against the 2019-nCoV epidemic shall establish anti-epidemic working groups that consist of the enterprises’ executives and other designated staff members to dedicate to the epidemic prevention and control. The working groups shall strictly follow related regulations on the epidemic prevention and control and safe production to help the enterprises resume operations in a safe, standardized and orderly manner.

2. Make contingency and operation resumption plans. Enterprises shall make plans for response to emergencies related to the epidemic and resumption of their operations. The plans shall include details about the enterprises’ leadership, accountability system, inspection mechanism, daily management modes, logistical support and contingency plans. The enterprises shall make clear the responsibilities of different departments and individuals.

3. Ensure enough fund and supplies. The enterprises shall ensure enough fund and supplies for the epidemic prevention and control. The stock of such tools as masks, thermometers, sanitizers and disinfectors shall be able to last for at least one week, and continuous supply shall be guaranteed. Industrial enterprises with dormitories for their staff shall have rooms for temporary quarantine. The proportion of the number of quarantine rooms to the number of employees shall be 1: 100. The Headquarters will try its best to help the enterprises ensure enough supplies for epidemic prevention and control.

4. Conduct strict inspections. The enterprises shall make records of each employee’s travels and daily activities during the Spring Festival vacation, learn about their plans of returning to SIP, and make proper arrangement for their return. For employees already back to work, the enterprises shall enhance monitoring of their health conditions. The enterprises shall adopt a reporting mechanism. The employees shall fill in a “Health Report” before their return. The report shall include details about their life over the past 14 days, including their travels, contact with people with illnesses, epidemiological records and health conditions as well as the health conditions of people living together with them. The enterprises shall make records of employees who traveled to or lived in Hubei, Wenzhou, Taizhou and other severely affected areas over a two-week period before their return, and make reports to related authorities without delay. For these employees, the enterprises shall take effective quarantine measures and trace their conditions and make reports to related authorities every day.

5. Enhance personnel management. Enterprises shall make great efforts to impart knowledge on the virus to their employees and urge them to wear masks and take other protective measures. Before Jiangsu government withdraws the level I public health emergency response against the 2019-nCoV epidemic, enterprises shall not carry out recruitment activities in areas seriously affected by the epidemic, and shall not employ new recruits from the areas or send employees to work in these areas. Instead, enterprises can adopt online work modes for operations related to these areas. Enterprises shall establish a health monitoring system to trace the health conditions of all of their staff. During the period of the level I public health emergency response, there shall be measures to check every employee’s temperature and inquire about their health conditions before they enter into their workplaces. In case that anyone is identified with fever, cough or other 2019-nCoV symptoms, the person shall be denied entry to the workplaces. Enterprises shall optimize workflows and adopt lockdown-based management to minimize gatherings and reduce possibilities of 2019-nCoV infections.

6. Conduct all-around disinfection. Enterprises shall frequently clean such places as workplaces, canteens, employee dormitories and construction sites and disinfect the places with sanitizers. There should be facilities and articles for hand cleaning at workplaces. Special personnel shall be designated to disinfect public spaces, shared vehicles and other surfaces at least twice a day. Besides, attention shall be paid to ventilating rooms at regular intervals, reducing use of air conditioners, and keeping air conditioners and filters clean before using them.

7. Enhance daily management. Enterprises shall carry out related training activities to increase employees’ vigilance against the virus, teach them methods for self-protection and health-promoting living, and call on them to avoid littering, spitting and other uncivilized behaviors to help keep public spaces clean. Enterprises shall also provide medical masks to employees and teach them how to wear a mask in the right way. Employees not wearing a mask shall be denied from entering shuttle buses for employees or any other of the enterprises’ places with large people flow. The employees shall change their masks at certain intervals and dispose the used masks in proper ways. Enterprises with employees eating together shall provide boxed meals and pay high attention to food safety and disinfection and management of cookware and tableware. Canteens in enterprises shall take effective measures to ensure food safety. They are not allowed to buy live poultry and fish or meat without required quality certificates, and shall not offer dishes with raw ingredients. Staff at enterprises’ canteens shall have their temperature taken every day before work, and related records shall be kept. Canteen staff shall wear gloves, goggles, medical masks and shielding shoes during work. Food shall be sampled in accordance with relevant regulations.

III. Procedures for enterprises to resume operations

Before resuming their operations, enterprises shall submit to BSG their plans for epidemic prevention and control and resumption of operations along with their commitment to fully implementing the plans through the WeChat account “SIP Economic”. Scan the following QR code, and find “Epidemic Prevention and Control” and then “Registration of Operation Resumption”. The enterprises can only resume their operations with the approval from BSG. Onsite review is necessary for enterprises with high risks in the epidemic prevention and control, complicated staffing or insufficient anti-epidemic measures and supplies. These enterprises can only resume their operations upon BSG’s notification.

(Scan the QR code to enter SIP Economic on WeChat)

Annexes:

1. Hygienic Guide of Jiangsu Province for Industrial Enterprises to Prevent and Control Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus (Trial)

2. Contacts in Different Functional Zones (Dealing with resumption registration and report on violations)

Annex 1

Hygienic Guide of Jiangsu Province for Industrial Enterprises to Prevent and Control Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus (Trial)

In accordance with the requirements by Jiangsu Provincial Government for the prevention and control of pneumonia caused by the 2019-nCoV outbreak, the following guide is stipulated to implement the prevention and control of the epidemic.

I. Goal

The principle of early detection, timely report and quarantine, quick diagnosis, and effective treatment should be followed to deal with the situation of 2019-nCoV spread in industrial enterprises, effectively prevent and control the epidemic, minimize its harm so as to safeguard the employees’ health and safety, and maintain the enterprises’ orderly operations.

II. Responsibilities and requirements

1. All the industrial enterprises should make contingency and work plans to tackle any emergencies caused by the 2019-nCoV.

2. A responsibility mechanism should be established and every unit should designate the responsibilities to specific persons.

3. There should be a designated person to report all the information related to the 2019-nCoV.

4. Earnestly implement the measures to prevent and control the 2019-nCoV.

5. Guarantee all the necessary materials, venues, personnel and funds needed for the fight against the 2019-nCoV.

6. If any case of the pneumonia happens, the enterprises should handle the situation together with the hygiene and health departments.

III. Prevention and control measures

1. Measures before resumption of operations

(a) Information disclosure: inform the employees of the situation, and employees from Hubei province should not return to work without medical observation.

(b) Mobilization: pin down responsibility entity, create a work mechanism for the prevention and control of 2019-nCoV, and establish a workforce of professional and amateur personnel at all levels of the enterprises so as to carry out the measures efficiently. Anyone with the symptom of respiratory abnormalities, though without fever, should be taken to hospital timely.

(c) Health screening

i. Make a record of the activities all the employees had during the Spring Festival holiday, including their whereabouts, health conditions, possible contact with infected persons or wild animals.

ii. Make a record of those who returned to Suzhou after travelling or living in Hubei province and inquire about their health. There should be a two-week medical observation for all of them, during which their temperature should be checked twice a day.

iii. A screening should be made to detect any cases of fever, respiratory and digestive abnormalities. If detected, they should be taken to hospitals timely with a medical mask on.

(d) Material preparations: make a good stock of masks, thermometers, disinfection medicine and instruments, and enterprises with dormitories for their employees should have temporary observation rooms ready, in case any emergency occurs.

2. Measures after resumption of operations

(a) Report of health condition and morning check: enterprises should set up a routine of health condition report and morning check. There should be designated persons to check every employee’s temperature. For enterprises with commuting buses, employees’ temperature should be checked before they get on. Anyone who has the symptom of fever or cough are not allowed on the bus or entering the enterprise, and should be urged to go to a designated hospital for medical help.

(b) Wearing protective articles: enterprises should equip employees with medical masks and anyone not wearing masks are forbidden to get on commuting buses or work at posts with many people. Masks should be worn, changed and disposed in the right way.

(c) Washing hands and disinfection: all the work places like control rooms, offices, canteens and washrooms, and living areas should be equipped with facilities for hand washing and disinfection. People should be designated to make regular disinfection of commuting buses, reception rooms, offices, lifts, desks and chairs, public areas, twice a day.

(d) Personal hygiene: when sneezing or coughing, people should cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or their elbow and put the tissues into the dustbin and wash hands with soap or sanitizer.

(e) Health education: impart knowledge on prevention and control of the 2019-nCoV, follow a healthy lifestyle to enhance physical resistance against diseases and get rid of all health-harming habits like littering and spitting.

(f) Environment hygiene: carry out a campaign to curb the disease medium by environment rectification and disinfection in places like canteen, dormitories and construction sites.

(g) Ventilation: keep a good ventilation of working and living places, reduce the use of air-conditioners and open windows to let in fresh air more often.

(h) Organize fewer indoor activities: minimize indoor activities to reduce the risk of cross-infection by less business travels, more video meetings and inter-enterprise mails.

(i) Food safety: enterprises that have canteens should pay high attention to food safety and hygiene and disinfection of utensils.

(j) Reception of outsiders: visitors or outsiders should register when coming to the enterprises and should be given a temperature check and masks. They should be taken to the designated places for work, rest or meals.

3. Prevention and control measures for detected cases

(a) Close contacts: enterprises should take a screening of the close contacts together with the hygiene and health departments. Those who have their own houses should stay at home for observation and those living in dormitories should be arranged a one-room apartment for observation. The duration is two weeks and their health condition should be reported twice a day. If any symptoms occur, such as respiratory abnormalities, fever, chills, fatigue, diarrhea, conjunctival congestion, etc., the person should be reported and taken to the hospital immediately.

(b) Strengthening disinfection: under the guidance of local disease prevention and control institutions, enterprises should do a good disinfection of the offices, meeting rooms or dormitories and quarantine those who had close contacts with infected persons in a separate place. Please refer to Guide of Terminal Disinfection Measures upon Cases of Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus (Trial) and Guide of Home Quarantine Disinfection for Close Contacts of Cases of Pneumonia Caused by the Novel Coronavirus (Trial) issued by Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission for detailed instructions.

(c) Closedown (if necessary): enterprises should take measures to stop operations temporarily in view of the scope, development trend of the epidemic and local governments’ decisions. If such situation happens, the closedown should be a gradual process.

Annex 2

Contacts in Different Functional Zones
(Dealing with resumption registration and report on violations)

1. SIP High-end Manufacturing and International Trade Zone:

Mr. He: 62986737
Ms. Sun: 62878339
Ms. He: 62983986
Ms. Jiang: 62878097
Mr. Pan: plm@sipac.gov.cn
Mr. Gu: guxihua@sipac.gov.cn
Mr. Chen: chensp@sipac.gov.cn

2. Dushu Lake Science & Education Innovation Zone:

Mr. Chen: 62607099, cjg@sipac.gov.cn
Mr. Chen: 62607089, chenxm@sipac.gov.cn
Mr. Yin: 62605982, yinzj@sipac.gov.cn
Ms. Jiang: 62605987, jiangz@sipac.gov.cn
Ms. Chen: 62607091, chenyi@sipac.gov.cn

3. Yangcheng Lake Peninsula Tourist Resort:

Mr. Wu: 69996656,wwx@sipac.gov.cn
Ms. Xie: 67068865, xss@sipac.gov.cn
Mr. Zhao: 69996670, zhaozhong@sipac.gov.cn
Mr. Yu: 69996610, yzy@sipac.gov.cn

4. Jinji Lake CBD:

Industrial sectors:
Ms. Wang: 69880382
Mr. Xing: 69880385
Mr. Gong: 69880383
Email: wangcf@sipac.gov.cn
Service sector:
Mr. Liu: 69880319
Mr. Shao: 69880375
Ms. Ba: 69880384
Email: bxg@sipac.gov.cn
Industrial parks:
Ms. Huang: 69880372
Ms. Li: 69880321
Email: lf1@sipac.gov.cn