A Letter to Foreign Teachers and Students in Guangzhou

February 6, 2020

Dear foreign teachers and students in Guangzhou,

On this occasion of celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau would like to extend our sincere greetings and thank you for choosing Guangzhou for your work or study.

You most likely knew about the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). In coordination with the unified efforts of the Chinese central government, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government and the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government have been taking active measures to prevent the novel coronavirus outbreak. This included the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government activating a Level-I public health emergency response on January 23, 2020.

Following the guidance of our higher authorities, the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau is mobilizing all schools and teaching institutions to step up epidemic prevention and control efforts which will in a determined manner curb and prevent the spread of the virus. These steps will help ensure the health and safety of our students and faculty members which is foremost.

To best help prevent the outbreak as soon as possible and to safeguard public safety, we hereby propose the following five initiatives for our foreign teachers and foreign students living in Guangzhou.

1. Be Well Informed

Following unified guidelines of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, all primary schools, secondary schools and kindergartens in Guangzhou currently will NOT open for the new semester BEFORE February 17. All institutions of higher education and secondary vocational schools will NOT open for the new semester BEFORE February 24. Please note that these dates are tentative and subject to change based upon conditions and sound decisions made after conducting comprehensive scientific research. Possible changes in these opening dates will be publicized by the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau through news releases on its official website or WeChat public account.

Please keep a close eye on these official information releases and do not trust false and unverified information. Please also know that alternatively your work units or schools will publicize the news of rescheduled opening dates for you to make corresponding arrangements when informed.

2. Strengthen Prevention and Self-Protection

Please maintain good hygiene by washing your hands often with soap or an alcohol-based sanitizer. Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your flexed elbow. Refrain from spitting and wear a medical protective mask when exposed outdoors. Dispose of used masks appropriately and keep rooms clean and well ventilated. Avoid close contact with wild animals or birds and reduce eating uncooked or cold foods. Eggs and meat must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

3. Minimize Outdoor Activities

Please avoid crowded places, parties and group activities. Correctly wear a mask which is preferably a surgical mask if you need to attend an activity. Try to avoid close contact with others in a confined space. If you have mild to severe respiratory symptoms of fever, cough, breathing difficulty or fatigue, please immediately report the case to your work unit or school and go to a designated hospital wearing a mask.

4. Be Cooperative

Please comply with disinfection and ventilation requirements established by your work units for teaching, office and dormitory areas. Cooperate with entry and exit access controls and temperature monitoring within the campus when the new semester begins. Follow professional guidelines and suggestions proposed by disease control and prevention agencies or experts.

To ensure the health and safety of all students and faculty members, you are strongly advised to return to Guangzhou during an off-peak time and stay in your residence until further notice about the rescheduled opening date released by your work unit. Should you encounter any issues related to your work permit, work visa or student visa, please contact the relevant departments within your school responsible for overseas students and the management of foreign teachers. The Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau will work closely with other authorities, such as foreign affairs, foreign expert affairs and immigration, to provide you with any necessary assistance.

5. Join Our Mass Prevention and Control Efforts

If you have been to the Hubei Province or any other infected areas before returning to Guangzhou, please report to your school or community to arrange a health check-up. Please follow all health guidelines and only attend any outdoor activities after enforcing a self-quarantine for fourteen days. Please cooperate with government or community personnel or medical staff if they inquire about your condition.

Dearest friends, you will certainly encounter inconveniences for your work and life during this special time of challenge. We sincerely ask for your forgiveness and understanding. We firmly believe our concerted efforts will help us soon win this fight against the novel coronavirus. We look forward to again celebrating great times together in the beautiful city of Guangzhou which we all love.

We wish you happiness, good health and the greatest of success for 2020.

Appendix：Novel Coronavirus Advice for Expats in Guangzhou

Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau‍

致在穗外籍教师和学生的一封公开信

在穗外籍教师和学生朋友：

您好！

值此中国农历新春佳节之际，广州市教育局向您致以诚挚的问候，并衷心感谢您选择广州作为自己工作或学习的地方。

近期，新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情牵动人心。根据中国政府的统一部署，广东省和广州市积极采取措施开展疫情防控工作，广东省政府于1月23日启动了突发公共卫生事件一级应急响应。广州市教育局也按照上级的要求，全力组织各级各类学校开展疫情防控工作，坚决遏制和防止病毒传播，保护全体学生和教职员工的身体健康和生命安全。为早日战胜疫情，维护公共安全，在此，我们向在穗外籍教师和学生提出以下倡议：

一、关注信息动态。根据广东省政府的统一要求，我市中小学、幼儿园2月17日前不开学，大专院校、中职学校2月24日前不开学。在科学研判和确定各级各类学校开学日期后，我们将第一时间通过广州市教育局官方网站和微信公众号进行发布，请大家密切留意官方相关信息，做到不信谣、不传谣、不慌张。具体开学信息您也可以留意工作单位和学校的公告，以便提前做好相应安排。

二、加强自我防护。保持良好的卫生习惯，注意手部清洁，勤洗手。咳嗽、打喷嚏时务必使用纸巾或肘部捂住口鼻，不随地吐痰。外出时佩戴医用防护口罩，废弃口罩按规定规范投放。注意居所卫生，每天早晚开窗通风。避免接触任何野生动物或禽类动物，减少生冷食物摄入，肉类和蛋类请彻底煮熟后食用。

三、尽量减少外出。避免前往人员密集场所，暂停聚会聚餐等群体性活动。若必须前往，请务必正确佩戴口罩，尽量避免在密闭场所与他人近距离交流。若出现发热、咳嗽、胸闷、乏力等症状，请第一时间向工作单位或学校进行报备，充分做好防护措施，佩戴口罩，根据指引及时前往属地医院或我市定点收治医院诊治。

四、配合开学工作。严格遵守各单位在教学区域、办公区域及宿舍区域的消毒和通风要求，积极配合开学初期进出校园将实施的严格管控与测温工作，遵从疫情防控专业机构和人员的意见和建议。为确保全市师生、员工的生命健康安全，我们建议您避开人流高峰期返穗，返穗后居家休息，遵从学校具体要求，静待开学通知。若您遇到工作许可、工作签证、学生签证等方面的问题，请您联系学校负责留学生、外籍教师管理的部门，我局会指导学校联系外事、外专、出入境管理部门向您提供尽可能的最大帮助。

五、参与联防联控。如果您从武汉市或湖北省其他城市返回，请主动向学校及居住社区报告并配合开展医学检查，居家隔离14天后再行外出。如果有政府、社区工作人员、义务人员询问您的情况，请您积极配合他们的工作。

朋友，这个特殊时期难免会给您的工作和生活带来不便，敬请您理解和谅解。我们相信，在大家的共同努力下，不久的将来，我们一定能够打赢这场疫情防控战役！待到那时，春暖花开，我们都可以自如地漫步羊城街头，共享美好的时光！

最后，祝您鼠年吉祥，幸福安康！

附件：在穗外国友人健康防护指引

广州市教育局

2020年2月6日

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