Up-to-Date Eng COVID News at Your Finger Tips

For many in Beijing, we had become lax with COVID-19 restrictions and safety measures, but recent community outbreaks have been a rude awakening to the dangers of this pandemic. Regulations have stiffened once again, scanning health kit codes is a priority and mask wearing a must. Confirmed cases in Dashanzi and Shunyi have put everyone on high alert and the government and CDC into full action. Chinese news is all over these new outbreaks with breaking news and alerts every day, but is it as convenient for foreigners who don’t understand Chinese to keep abreast of their local COVID-19 situation?

We here at OASIS decided to put together some useful links, platforms and social media that Beijing Expats could use to get up-to-date and live English news and information on COVID-19 as well as some safety tips and recent regulatory changes over the past week.

Protect Yourself, Protect Others

VIRUS PREVENTION

Correct handwashing may seem like a no brainer, but you'd be surprised how many get it wrong. The CDC has setup a handwash campaign this year during the pandemic to help educate and reduce the spread of COVID-19 with a simple 5 step process: Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry. Don't forget to spend a little time lathering and scrubbing those germs away, at least 20secs, but we'd go as far as 50secs.

CDC 

5 Step

HANDWASHING

Daily cleaning and sanitizing of your home is also recommended, particularly in medium to high risk areas. At home, daily cleaning should include tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. Use soap and water to wash down dirty surfaces prior to disinfection.

Recent Changes to RegulationsDesignated Medium Risk AreasAreas At Risk

1. Chaoyang District, Jiuxianqiao, 

    Dashanzi Hanting Hotel 

    (and shops beneath)

    朝阳区汉庭酒店大山子店（包括底商）

2. Shunyi District, Gaoliying Town, 

    Zhangxizhuang Village

    顺义区高丽营镇张喜庄村

3. Shunyi District, Nanfaxin Town, 

    West Dulan Village

    顺义区南法信镇西杜兰村

4. Shunyi District, Nanfaxin Town,

    Donghaihong Village

    顺义区南法信镇东海洪村

Travel Restrictions

Travel out of Beijing is discouraged over the new year, with those from medium risk areas requiring negative test results before travel. Anyone waiting on results from COVID testing is asked to refrain from travel before results have been issued.

Though unofficial, many hotels, ski resorts (eg: Chongli) or other holiday ventures may require a recent COVID test within 7 days of your expected arrival, particularly for those living/working in Chaoyang. Call ahead and be prepared.

Recent Notice From CHONGLI Ski Resort on Required Neg. COVID Certs. of Those From Medium/High Risk Areas

Recent Viral Transmission

Yesterday, Chinanews.com published a chart showing the chain of transmission of COVID-19 through Shunyi and the source of the COVID outbreak finally determined. We have translated and created a chart below with the original following.

COVID-19 Eng Media

1

Win.d

Screenshot of platform Dec 29^thClick for WeChat link

A market leader in China’s financial information services industry, provides accurate and real-time information. In China, they serve more than 90% of financial institutions including hedge funds, asset management firms, securities companies, insurance companies, banks, research institutions and government regulatory bodies. Overseas, Win.d serves 70% of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII). 

We’ve discovered they provide an extremely detailed and up-to-date platform for COVID-19 information including global, national, regional and district-based case by case information.

Webpage: https://www.wind.com.cn/en/about.html

2

The Beijinger

Screenshot of The Bejinger websiteWeChat ID: theBeijinger

A lifeline to many expats in Beijing, the Beijinger is under the umbrella of True Run Media, a media, events and publishing company, along with the Beijingkids, Jingkids Beijing, Jingkids Shanghai and the Beijinger Chinese. For brands and businesses, they offer a direct connection with over 100,000 international consumers - helping businesses of all shapes and sizes grow and prosper in China.The Beijinger blog provides helpful information, answers questions you’ve been pondering over and provides the latest in COVID-19 breaking news.

Website: https://www.thebeijinger.com/

3

Safe & Sane in Beijing

WeChat Group

This WeChat group is all about the facts and only about Beijing. They welcome those to join and hear recent factual news on COVID-19 in Beijing and for you to share confirmed, not rumored information with the group. Safe & Sane is all business and no fun, so enter with a clear mind! Read the group rules below before deciding to join the group.

Group Notice

Please read these rules.

There’s lots of info out there on the coronavirus. In fact, there’s TOO MUCH.

This group is a fact-based clearinghouse of *confirmed* information about how this situation is affecting our lives  in BEIJING specifically.

This is NOT a group for:

1. Covering everything about the disease. You’ll find plenty of that elsewhere.

2. This group is for BEIJING specific info only. 

3. Rumors. Do not post anything unless you have a legitimate source you trust.

4. Whining, badmouthing, speculating, rumor-mongering etc — not here please.

5. Memes & jokes. Save that stuff for your other groups.

——————

GUIDELINES FOR POSTING:

1. Is what you plan to post directly related to the situation IN BEIJING? If not, don’t post here.

2. Post only things you KNOW to be true, and cite your source (ideally with a link) “I heard that ...” “my wife read somewhere” are NOT sources ... those are rumors. Let us know: Who told you and why is that a trusted source?

***There is a ZERO tolerance policy on rumor-spreading and unrelated spam***

Share unconfirmed rumors and you will be removed without warning.

——————

If you read Chinese (or are comfortable using a translation app), an excellent, reliable source for breaking news is The Beijing News:

http://www.bjnews.com.cn/realtime

(Note: this feed is all of their breaking news, not just about the virus)

Safe & Sane Admin

2020/12/31

To Join

Scan the QR Code

Add Joshua, OASIS Intl. Patient Services

Request to be added to group

4

Baidu Maps

Technically not an English resource, but this may be something you find internesting while using your maps out and about. Within Baidu maps on your phone, you can search for COVID-19 to bring up hotspots where confirmed cases are. Helpful while travelling and puts into perspective where these areas are in relation to you. 

Here’s the how to:

Copy and paste – 新冠肺炎确诊 to the search bar and press enter. Example above.

Happy New Year

From 

OASIS International Hospital

Notice

Notice

COVID-19 Testing

Temporary Suspension of Out-Patient Testing