Fever clinics continuing to test patients

Fever clinics in the city will continue to test patients for the novel coronavirus after the government lowered its public health emergency response from second to third level on Friday, said Zheng Jin, a spokeswoman for the Shanghai Heath Commission. 

Medical services are returning to normal, with an increasing number of residents going to hospital. However, at a government press conference on Friday, Zheng said strict management at local hospitals will remain in place to prevent infection.

Anyone entering a hospital will have to wear a mask, have their temperature checked and details recorded.

Appointments should be made at different times to prevent large crowds and each consulting room can only have one patient.

Testing for the virus should be strengthened with comprehensive medical institutions meeting certain standards being asked to establish labs for testing.

Medical workers' health will be monitored and training in infection control launched at local hospitals. Daily cleaning and disinfection is also a must.

As the weather gets warmer, air-conditioning will be allowed in some public places, including commercial buildings, shopping malls and Metro stations.

Wu Huanyu, a medical expert with the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said these areas should enhance ventilation and air-conditioners should be cleaned and sterilized regularly. 

Whether residents will have to wear masks after the lowering of the emergency response level depends on social distancing, said Wu Fan, vice dean of the Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University.

"In less-crowded areas, if you can keep a distance of about 1.5 meters from others, then you can take off your mask. But if you need to have close contact with others, you should wear a mask."

Yang Xiaoxi, deputy director of the Shanghai Transportation Commission, said passenger volume on the Metro was back to about 80 percent while taxis were also seeing an increase in passenger numbers.

The commission has adjusted its management following the lowering of emergency response. Passengers in crowded areas such as Metro carriages and long-distance buses should wear a mask. Anyone taking a bus or taxi must wear a mask if they have symptoms such as a fever, running nose or coughing.

"All Metro train carriages have been installed with temperature sensors and if the temperature is higher than the figure we set, air-conditioning will turn on automatically, or it will remain ventilating," Yang said. "Between June 1 and September 30, if the temperature inside a bus is above 28 degrees Celsius, the driver will turn on the air-conditioning. If it's below 28 degrees, the bus just runs ventilation devices or opens windows."

Cabbies are asked to ensure ventilation inside taxis and if passengers want air-conditioning they can turn it on.