According to a notice issued by authorities in Haikou, the capital of China’s southern province of Hainan, starting from August 27, citizens and visitors across all four of the city’s districts (Xiuying, Longhua, Qiongshan and Meilan) will be required to present a negative nucleic acid test (NAT) result from within the past 72 hours when entering public spaces in the city. This is one of the city’s latest normalized pandemic control and prevention measures to help further curb the spread of the virus.

No new cases of Covid-19 have been reported among the general population in the city for consecutive eight days, with the pandemic situation remaining under control and improving steadily. Economic and social activities will thus be resumed in a progressive and orderly manner, with normalized pandemic control and prevention measures forming part of this, local authorities said.

Accordingly, supermarkets, pharmacies and other service facilities related to people’s livelihoods, as well as dine-in restaurants, will continue to strictly manage the flow of people. Commercial venues that operate in confined spaces, such as bars, cinemas and KTVs, will remain shut for the time being.

In addition, the city will pay more attention to key places and personnel. Regular measures like health monitoring, disinfection, ventilation and individual protection should be implemented at airports, ports, bus stations, logistic locations, fish and farmers’ markets, and on public transportation.

A visitor receives a Covid test at Haikou Meilan International Airport. LIU YANG

Key personnel, including patients visiting fever clinics, medics, fishermen, and those working in farmers’ markets, imported cold food supply chains, and delivery services, should take one Covid test each day, remain vigilant and properly wear masks to avoid potential infection.

The city is also continuing to improve NAT testing site arrangements across all four districts to facilitate regular testing for citizens and visitors, with NAT testing being available daily from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 21:00 from August 24th onwards.