SOEs expedite the supply of medical materials amid coronavirus epidemic

The city's state-owned enterprises have joined efforts to expedite the supply of medical materials and protective gear as well as the city's daily necessities.

Director of Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission Bai Tinghui said at a press briefing on Saturday that it has mobilized local SOEs to provide epidemic prevention and control facilities including face masks, protective suits, disposable gloves, drugs and sanitation products. 

Medical equipment includes 357 negative pressure ambulances, 640 ventilators and 640 CT machines.

SOEs like SAIC Motor Co and Shanghai Electric Group have been working with suppliers to shift part of their manufacturing capacity to medical protective goods in the face of sharp demand.

Local SOEs have  provided public utility and waste management to ensure the city's infrastructure runs smoothly.

"We'll continue to carry out strict quarantine work as well as stable production to ensure economic operations," Bai added.

A total of 8.56 billion yuan of targeted loans have been provided to companies whose businesses are relate to quarantine and medical supplies and 2.6 billion yuan of bonds were issued for epidemic prevention and control.

Cash and materials donated by local SOEs such as Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Haitong Securities, Shenergy Group Co, Shanghai Electric Group, Greenland Holdings Corp have totaled 370 million yuan, including 90 million yuan worth of materials and medical equipment.

State-backed Jin Jiang International Holdings Co also provided 113,000 rooms at its domestic hotel chains for the accommodation of medical staff and those in quarantine.

More than 80 percent of employees at local SOEs, a total of 700,000 people, resumed working as of this Friday, and 180,000 of them are working from home.

SOEs in the city are also urged to follow their employee's whereabouts promptly and to carry out sanitation procedures at work places.