Suifenhe, a small town on the border between China and Russia, has been on the hot search for several consecutive days.

According to statistics, as of 02:00 on April 12, the number of confirmed cases imported from Russia by Suifenhe has increased to 194, accounting for more than 97% of the cumulative number of imported cases confirmed overseas in Heilongjiang. After combing the information of the confirmed cases, it was found that they are all Chinese nationals, and they all have the same return route: from Moscow by plane → Vladivostok → by bus to Suifenhe port.

Information map of Suifenhe Highway Port. Photo courtesy of Suifenhe Today

In addition to Suifenhe, Manzhouli Port of Inner Mongolia also experienced a sudden increase in imported cases. Due to the huge pressure of epidemic prevention, the passenger transport corridors at China-Russia land border ports have all been temporarily closed.

At the same time, the Russian epidemic is also climbing. As of 11:15 on April 11, Moscow time, there were 1,667 new cases of new coronary pneumonia infection in Russia, and a total of 13,584 cases were diagnosed. Among them, 1030 cases were newly added in Moscow, and a total of 8852 cases were diagnosed, which was the most severely affected area in Russia.

Many authoritative experts predict that Russia will usher in a peak epidemic in the next 10 to 14 days.

How is the prevention and control of the Russian epidemic? Under the epidemic, how should Chinese businessmen, overseas Chinese, and Chinese students in Russia respond?

Anti-epidemic measures in the early stage of rapid response continue to increase

Why has the situation changed suddenly recently?

In the early stage of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the Russian government took a series of joint defense and joint control measures in a timely manner, mobilized extensively, guarded against death, and minimized the risk of importing the epidemic.

As early as January 27, Russian Prime Minister Mishustin urgently convened a government work conference on the prevention and control of the spread of epidemic situations, and established the epidemic prevention headquarters with Deputy Prime Minister Golikova as the general command. On January 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin requested the relevant departments of the Russian Federation to cooperate closely to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

In response to the risk of the spread of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, Russia will temporarily ban some Chinese citizens from February 20. From February 28th, Russia has suspended the issuance of visas to Iranian citizens, prohibiting entry.

With the spread of the epidemic in Europe, Russia has restricted flights with EU countries and Norway and Sweden from March 16, and only reserved regular flights with EU capitals, regular and Oslo, as well as Russian citizens and other countries. For the charter flights for citizens returning home, passengers can only enter and exit through Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal F.

Putin announced that Russia's paid vacation leave will be extended to April 30.

From March 18, Russia began to restrict the entry of foreigners. On March 27, the government urgently announced the closure of all border crossings, suspended all international flights except for the evacuation flights, and took a national holiday until April 30. Various measures such as isolation, closure of restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, construction of new medical centers, and expansion of testing scope have been strengthened to prevent and control the epidemic.

On March 31, the Russian State Duma passed a bill that imposed a fine of 500,000 to 700,000 rubles or sentenced to a maximum of 2 years in prison for those who violated epidemic prevention and epidemic prevention regulations and negligently caused communicable diseases. If the person is killed, he can be sentenced to a maximum of 7 years in prison.

Anti-epidemic measures continue to increase, and Russia is considered to be one of the countries with the fastest and most successful anti-epidemic response. It was not until March 19 that the first death occurred in Moscow. On March 20, more than 250 cases were diagnosed in Russia. Why has the recent epidemic situation become more and more complicated?

The Russian "Dragon News" analysis stated that the rapid outbreak of the European epidemic and the large number of Russian tourists and expatriates returning to the country caused increased pressure on the input of the domestic epidemic. According to analysis data, 60% of the confirmed cases in Russia are imported cases, most of which are returning citizens from Italy, France, Spain and other European countries with severe epidemics. Moscow bears the brunt as Russia's most important transportation hub for international routes.

With the release of a large number of newly developed test reagents to all parts of Russia, helping to shorten the time of virus detection and faster detection speed is another reason for the recent sharp increase in the number of confirmed cases of the new Russian crown.

In addition, the implementation of the segregation system is not thorough enough, and the public's awareness of self-protection needs to be improved. Malinkova, the chief infectious disease expert of the Russian Ministry of Health, pointed out on the 9th that the recent increase in confirmed cases in Russia is due to the fact that after Russia implemented the regulations on home isolation and epidemic prevention on March 30, some people did not follow the regulations.

Russia's epidemic suddenly intensified

How about 150,000 Chinese citizens in Russia?

On April 10, Zhang Hanhui, Chinese ambassador to Russia, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from ChinaNews.com that there are currently about 150,000 Chinese citizens in Russia. Among them, there are more than 10,000 staff in Chinese-funded enterprises, about 50,000 to 60,000 individual Chinese businessmen, and 27,000 international students.

On March 30 local time, all citizens of Moscow began to isolate themselves at home regardless of age. The picture shows that the leisure facilities in the residential area have been closed. China News Service reporter Wang Xiujun

Mr. Han, who is based in Moscow, is a Chinese company employee. His company adopted a remote office model because of the epidemic. Recently, residents of Moscow may need to present the QR code generated on the city hall website. Regulators and law enforcement agencies will use the QR code to determine whether residents are eligible to go out.

"A lot of Russian friends around me still didn't take this too seriously. They would think that the media exaggerated the report. They might take the vacation time to go out and barbecue." Mr. Han believes that Russia's current prevention and control measures are reasonable and Effective, but some people also need to take the new crown epidemic more seriously.

Lin Lin, a Chinese student at St. Petersburg State Normal University, said that the impact of the epidemic on her study abroad life is considerable. The first aspect is that the psychological pressure is very high-especially homesick, because I did not go home during the Spring Festival. The second aspect, because studying abroad at your own expense, you need to pay your own tuition, usually by doing part-time work to reduce the burden on the family. Linlin hopes that the Russian government will have some preferential measures for foreign students in the future. The third aspect that she is very worried about is the aspect of studying abroad and language learning. If you listen to it purely online, or type in the online class, the effect is really very unsatisfactory.

Miss Li in Yekaterinburg is a freelancer and a doctoral student who has lived in this city for many years. The Russian government announced a shutdown, and in her view, it seems to have little effect on the residents of Yekaterinburg. For herself, she has strictly abided by government regulations and only went to purchase food once, and she began to isolate herself at home. Miss Li said that although Russia has restricted entry and exit, the traffic between cities in the country is still unimpeded, which is undoubtedly a negative factor for epidemic prevention and control.

Due to the severe epidemic in Moscow, the two large markets of Chinese businessmen gathered in Moscow, the Sadawa Market and the Liublinno Market, were also closed at the end of March. Wang Hengbao, president of the Yueqing Chamber of Commerce in Russia, said that at present, the Chamber of Commerce has issued an appeal to Chinese businessmen in Moscow, hoping that during the extraordinary period, Chinese businessmen will remain calm and avoid cross-infection caused by long-distance travel. In addition to life, try not to go out and keep a safe distance.

Jiang Yanbin, chairman of the Confucius Culture Promotion Association in Moscow, revealed that many Chinese businessmen are not good at Russian, and communication is difficult. It is helpless to return to China. It is now a good thing that Russia has strict control. The greater the control, the sooner it can be restored. The association has called on Chinese businessmen to isolate themselves at home and not to travel far.

Against some recent false reports and false news involving Chinese citizens in Russia. In an exclusive interview, Ambassador Zhang Hanhui emphasized that there is currently no case in which Chinese citizens have been detained in Russia or have been restricted by Russian authorities because of issues such as visas and residence permits. The Russian side also did not expel Chinese citizens, including Chinese businessmen in the Moscow big market. The online message that "Russia will expel 1.5 million Chinese citizens" is purely sensational rumors. Ambassador Zhang Hanhui emphasized that, in general, all sectors of Russia are friendly and protective of Chinese citizens.

Land border crossings have been temporarily closed

Do n’t panic in Russians

According to the unified Russian epidemic prevention arrangements, all residents in Russia should be isolated at home from March 28 to April 30.

At present, the three passenger ports of the Sino-Russian highway have been closed between Pogranichny-Suifen River, Kraskino-Hunchun, Portavka-Dongning between the Russian Primorsky Krai and China. On April 12, the Chinese Embassy in Russia reminded Chinese citizens once again not to go to the Russian Far East and Siberia and try to return to their country through land ports. The Foreign Affairs Office of Heilongjiang Province also issued a notice on April 12 to remind Chinese citizens in Russia that the Suifenhe-Pogranici Port Travel Inspection Channel will continue to be temporarily closed after April 13.

As for whether it plans to organize charter flights to pick up Chinese citizens from Russia? Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on the 9th that China and Russia are still maintaining communication through diplomatic channels. At present, there are normal commercial flights between China and Russia.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia video connection condolences all Russian students. (Chinese Embassy in Russia)

Chinese ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui suggested that Chinese citizens in Russia should abide by Russian anti-epidemic requirements and avoid long-distance travel, and home isolation is the best anti-epidemic measure. Many overseas Chinese face certain life pressure and psychological pressure. In late March, the Chinese Embassy in Russia has video connections with representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises in Russia, representatives of international students, representatives of Chinese businessmen and overseas Chinese groups in Russia, to analyze the situation of the Russian epidemic, relieve psychological pressure, and encourage them to prevent epidemic.

The insurance department of the Embassy in Russia has opened a 24-hour service hotline to answer various issues of concern to Chinese citizens, and provides relevant insurance services for Chinese citizens isolated by the Moscow City Government and other Chinese citizens in Russia who are experiencing various difficulties. The Education Section of the Embassy has set up a hotline specifically to answer the phone calls of overseas students or parents on duty and provide necessary assistance in a timely manner.

In addition, Xiaoqiao noticed that the Chinese Consul General in Vladivostok, Yan Wenbin, recently wrote a letter to the Chinese consulate official website to exchange ideas on issues such as the current epidemic of the new crown.

Yan Wenbin called on compatriots in Russia not to panic and anxiety. Compared with other major countries in the world, the epidemic situation in Russia is still relatively mild. At the same time, strictly abide by the Russian government's home segregation system and minimize going out. Once Chinese citizens violate home separation, they will not only be fined, but will also be recorded, which may affect their residence and work in Russia.

Yan Wenbin also reminded his compatriots in Russia to make good business arrangements and unite to help each other.

There is also good news for the overseas Chinese in Russia. On the afternoon of April 11 local time, the Chinese government's team of medical experts on anti-epidemic medicine has arrived in Moscow. The medical expert group will hold a video conference with representatives of overseas Chinese and Russians in China, Chinese-funded enterprises, and international students to introduce knowledge and experience in epidemic prevention and distribute anti-epidemic materials.

Finally, Xiaoqiao reminded Chinese citizens in Russia to calmly respond to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, pay attention to new media platforms such as the Chinese Embassy in Russia website and WeChat public account, and pay attention to the adjustment of Russian visa and immigration policies, the closure of ports, and the adjustment of airline flight routes And other information.

Source: China News Service, Russian Dragon News, Guangming Daily, Chinese Embassy in Russia, Russian Satellite News Agency, Chinese Consulate General in Vladivostok

Author / Editor: Han Hui