ShangHai Recommendation!

[hayashi]

Originally posted by Looksee
Hi Bro Ascott

Need some clarification from u. R u on self-quarantine or imposed by the city that u have to be quarantine.

I need to go to SHA quite urgently and would appreciate any information on the SARS situation there, such as quarantine period, etc etc.

Thanks and regards

Bro Looksee,
These may a bit 'long winded' , however, i think the following info
(especially point 'c') from the Consulate-General of Singapore in Shanghai dated 20 May 2003 is useful to you.

SHANGHAI MAYOR’S MEETING WITH THE DIPLOMATIC CORP

The Singapore Consulate-General attended a meeting between Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng and the Diplomatic Corp on 20 May 2003. Mayor Han briefed the Diplomatic Corp on the SARS situation in Shanghai and exchanged views with the Diplomatic Corp regarding Shanghai’s anti-SARS measures. The Diplomatic Corp also expressed the concerns of the expatriate community in Shanghai.


2 According to Mayor Han Zheng, Shanghai would continue to do its utmost to combat the SARS problem. The chief guiding principle of Shanghai’s SARS preventive work was to act in a responsible manner towards the health of Shanghai residents as well as the expatriate community. He said in no uncertain terms that the Municipal Government would accord a higher importance to the health and safety of all residents in Shanghai, both local and foreign, over economic development. He explained that the current measures of limiting people’s mobility were necessary to stop any possible spread of the SARS virus. It was a difficult decision for the Government as the measures would restrict business activities and cause inconvenience to people’s daily life. However, this temporary inconvenience would ultimately bring about convenience in the long run. He thanked the expatriate community for its understanding and support.


3 Mayor Han also answered the queries posed by the Diplomatic Corp:

(a) Implementation – Mayor Han admitted that there were irregularities and inconsistencies in the implementation of the SARS preventive measures. He explained that the Shanghai Government faced difficulties when drafting the two notices, as there were little legislation for them to refer to. An Anti-SARS Task Force, with various sub-committees, had since been set up to tackle the SARS problem. The Districts and Counties were also empowered to implement the measures. As this was the first time the Districts and Counties were tasked to carry out such measures, it was inevitable that inconsistencies and irregularities arose, of which some problems could not be rectified immediately. He acknowledged that the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Offices had received much feedback on the inconsistencies and irregularities and had actively helped to resolve many problems. He assured the Diplomatic Corp that the Municipal Government would treat this issue seriously and that there would be better co-ordination between the Districts/Counties and the Municipal Government.


(b) SARS Affected Areas – Mayor Han informed the Diplomatic Corp that the Anti-SARS Task Force, beginning today, would announce the list of SARS affected areas every two days. The Districts and Counties would be informed accordingly the classification of SARS-affected areas to ensure greater uniformity and transparency in the implementation of SARS preventive measures.


(c) Resident And Visitor – The Diplomatic Corp called for equal treatment between residents and visitors. In particular, they questioned the rationale behind why a returning resident from SARS affected areas would be subjected to “medical observation” (14-day quarantine) while a short-term visitor was only required to undergo “health check”? Mayor Han noted the suggestion and replied that one could expect a firm answer from the Municipal Government in a couple of days. He remarked that Shanghai could accord the same treatment given to visitors to its residents but not vice versa.


(d) Transit – Mayor Han confirmed that Shanghai would follow WHO guidelines on transiting in SARS affected areas – risk of contracting SARS during transit is very low. Thus, a transit in Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and other SARS affected areas (within 24 hours) does not equate a visit to SARS-affected areas.


(e) Yangtze River Delta – The Diplomatic Corp urged for greater co-ordination between Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces on the SARS prevention measures given the high amount of exchanges between these places each day. Mayor Han said that the three governments and the respective departments remained in close contact. In response to the suggestion of a possible “Green Lane” at the check points for emergencies and some enterprises which were prepared to undertake health checks at their factories in Suzhou/Kunshan, etc, prior to entry into Shanghai, Mayor Han said that the government would study the suggestion.


(f) World Link – Mayor Han explained that as World Link (in Shanghai Centre) was assessed to be not well equipped to handle fever patients at the moment, the medical institution was not able to treat fever patients. However, he understood that World Link would be opening a new premises in a couple of days in the Luwan District. This new premises, with the necessary equipment, could handle fever patients. The official operation of the new premises would be announced in the media


3 The session between the Mayor and the Diplomatic Corp was candid and Mayor Han was receptive to many suggestions and comments. He was also forthcoming in acknowledging many of the shortcomings during the implementation of the SARS preventive measures and assured the Diplomatic Corp that the Municipal Government would do its best to rectify the problems.


4 The Consulate-General have been receiving feedback from our fellow citizens affected by some of the measures and have actively helped to channel the queries to the appropriate authorities to either solve the problems or seek clarifications. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Singaporean community for the feedback and patience. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us at the Consulate-General if you require any assistance.



. . . . .


Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Shanghai
20 May 2003

[Looksee]

Originally posted by hayashi
Bro Looksee,
These may a bit 'long winded' , however, i think the following info
(especially point 'c') from the Consulate-General of Singapore in Shanghai dated 20 May 2003 is useful to you.

SHANGHAI MAYOR’S MEETING WITH THE DIPLOMATIC CORP

Bro hayashi

Thanks for the information.

regards

[hayashi]

Originally posted by shagman69
I have informed Coco on your arrival in SHA. Already told her that you will provide some coaching for her Golf and asked her to intro Ah Ling to you.
Please PM me you mobile to send you her number!

BroShagman,
i have given Coco number to BroAscott last night.

[trax222]

Originally posted by Looksee
Hi Bro Ascott

Need some clarification from u. R u on self-quarantine or imposed by the city that u have to be quarantine.

I need to go to SHA quite urgently and would appreciate any information on the SARS situation there, such as quarantine period, etc etc.

Thanks and regards

Just adding on. I just arrived in SH 3 days back and there's no problem at all. No quarantine. All they need is to take your temperature 2x a day and for you to report your movement and people you meet daily. Other than that, nothing changed.

And hotels and service apartments are very paranoid now, so no taking home any cows. Or going to their homes for that matter. Since most places need a pass to get in or you need to register yourself.

Hope this helps.

[SGPshanghai69]

Originally posted by Looksee
Hi Bro Ascott

Need some clarification from u. R u on self-quarantine or imposed by the city that u have to be quarantine.

I need to go to SHA quite urgently and would appreciate any information on the SARS situation there, such as quarantine period, etc etc.

Thanks and regards

Dear Looksee bro & all bros here,
As per my IDD call with our bro Ascott this afternoon, I am being told of the following situation in Shanghai now as follow;

1) 14 days Medical Observation Period - Any foreign visitors w.e.f from now onwards who enter into Shanghai, he/she are to be interview by respective district medical personnel from the hospital. There after, he/she will be given 14 pieces of forms to be fill up daily. Daily info such as who have been visited, places visited, time, etc. are to be noted down & to be submitted to the hotel concierge end of everyday.

2) Foriegners who possessed work permits as well as Long-Term Residence Permit who returns to Shanghai this period from SARS affected countries will be put under complusory 14 days indoor quarantine at home.

Hope the above info will useful to all bros here who intend to visit Shanghai in the coming days.
Regards,

[Looksee]

Originally posted by trax222
Just adding on. I just arrived in SH 3 days back and there's no problem at all. No quarantine. All they need is to take your temperature 2x a day and for you to report your movement and people you meet daily. Other than that, nothing changed.

And hotels and service apartments are very paranoid now, so no taking home any cows. Or going to their homes for that matter. Since most places need a pass to get in or you need to register yourself.

Hope this helps.

Bro trax222

It certainly did, thanks bro!

regards

[Ascott]

All Bros,

What broSGP mentioned earlier is correct.
The nurse (middle-aged, so no follow-up) from the local hospital does come to our hotel every morning to collect the quarantine forms. She has a list of guests who came from SARS affected territories and she does verify them.

But, I wonder how the authority checks those who are staying in private property like a bungalow surrounded by acres of ranch, right broSGP?

BroShagman, thanks for info.

[SGPshanghai69]

Originally posted by Ascott
All Bros,

But, I wonder how the authority checks those who are staying in private property like a bungalow surrounded by acres of ranch, right broSGP?

Hey Bro Ascott,
Like to address your question on those who dwelled in private properties or like myself in private apartments areas with regards to the Quarantine Inspection by health inspectors/ authorities.

- All private developments have Management Offices as well as Community Management offices that manages the entire development, including in particular managing and keeping an eye on those who returns from SARS affected countries into their development. Therefore, these managemnt offices will contact the hospital to send someone to conduct temperature taking as well as all other paper works procedure to ensure all residents in the development are being well protected & assured of their safety. Very strict, assuring but also kinda abit 'kiasu' but ultimately...GOOD measures! All lifts interior, lift buttons panels, loby floors are being disinfected 3-4 times daily.
That's what being practiced at the private apartment block which I'm staying in now. The management even gone to the extend of tapping up the lift exterior & interior buttons panels for all lifts with transparent plastic sheets just to play safe!!

To be honest, since my return to homeland, Singapore here...I've felt that the preventive measures are not as good as what the media claimed to be...in fact, sad to say I think it's not even on par with the preventive measures Shanghai City Government is enforcing right now!

Here are some of my actual encounter in Shanghai since the SARS outbeak -
Take for example the cab drivers prowling on the street daily. They are literally being forced to abide by the rules that all cabs are to be disinfected every morning before going on the street. Disinfected cabs will each be given a certified health pass to be sticked on the windscreen. Any cabs caught without this health pass on the street will be penalised/license revoked.
Also, all cab drivers are to don a face mask while driving. Anyone caught without a face mask will also be slap on with a hefty fine.

Also, all restaurants, hair salons, KTVs, health spas, mini-marts, hyper-marts, boutiques, etc. be it big or small in scale are to be disinfected twice daily at least before & after operations hours.

Patrons who visit restaurants are required to wash their hands prior to meals, follow by another round of disinfectant spray on their hands upon coming out of the washrooms after washing their hands as well. All cutlery are to be replaced with disposal ones, disregard the fact whether the restaurants are very posh in setting or not. Compulsory measures as per stipulated by Shnaghai Health Authority!

No doubt it is kinda 'over-killed' with such measures at certain extend, yet to those bros here who's waiting anxiously, eagerly to be back in Shanghai, I think you all will feel very reassured with that!

Hope the above info are of certain degree of assurance to all bros here.
Regards,

[Ascott]

BroSGP,
No need for you to worry, liao. SIN has been taken off the no-travel list already, right?

Brohayashi: will be checking out the Jpn KTV with Mr. M soon. FR later.

[SGPshanghai69]

Originally posted by Ascott
BroSGP,
No need for you to worry, liao. SIN has been taken off the no-travel list already, right?

Brohayashi: will be checking out the Jpn KTV with Mr. M soon. FR later.

Dear Bro Ascott,
No that your bro me is worry nor afraid of situation in Shanghai but instead I'm pretty worry about the situation in S'pore rather......
As per mentioned above my posting on the preventive measures that are being enforced here in S'pore as compared to those measures in Shanghai, we r indeed a far cry from them all......

As with regards to S'pore being taken off the SARS Affected Countries List, it is only a 'maybe' as per WHO announced on the papers lah...not firm as yet....shall wait & see lor....

Regards,

[SGPshanghai69]

Dear all bros,
Pls be informed that there will be gathering over dinner on Thursday evening. However, time & venue is not firm as yet.

The following bros will be present:
- Putonren, Marcoman, Looksee (yet to confirm), Tsuyoyi, Shagman69, SGPshanghai69, Jans766, Hayashi.

All other bros back from Shanghai or out of quarantine are welcome. PM anyone of us or via sms.
Thank you.
Regards.

I am interested, please keep us inform. Thanks

[Ascott]

Alamak! BroSGP, what about us still in SHA? OK, decided to call Coco for separate event.
Anyway, have fun to all bros. and maybe we can meet when I am back next month.

[69er]

Originally posted by SGPshanghai69
Dear all bros,
Pls be informed that there will be gathering over dinner on Thursday evening. However, time & venue is not firm as yet.

The following bros will be present:
- Putonren, Marcoman, Looksee (yet to confirm), Tsuyoyi, Shagman69, SGPshanghai69, Jans766, Hayashi.

All other bros back from Shanghai or out of quarantine are welcome. PM anyone of us or via sms.
Thank you.
Regards.

SGP,

Could I go too? Or is this more of a private meeting (I am really from San Francisco)? If yes, let's exchange cell phone numbers by in mail.

[storm]

Sorry if I am asking the wrong question in the wrong thread.

I am just wondering whats the cheapest way to call China (mobile/fixed line) from SG (fixed line). I saw alot of calling cards selling in SG. Just wondering which are the ones recommended and used by our Bros here.