China News Service, April 3. According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, the outbreak caused by the new crown virus has affected the world since this year. In the early days of the new crown pneumonia epidemic in China, foreign students in the United States were deeply concerned about their motherland, actively supported them, and donated money and materials, reflecting their patriotism. The current domestic epidemic situation continues to improve, and the production and living order is accelerating. However, the development of the US epidemic situation is worrying. It has brought trouble to the life and study of international students, and made domestic parents feel anxious.
The CPC Central Committee always attaches great importance to and cares for Chinese students studying abroad. When President Xi Jinping spoke with President Trump recently, he specifically emphasized the need to protect the safety and health of Chinese citizens in the United States, including international students. The embassy in the United States organized international students to connect with Ambassador Cui Tiankai and Dr. Zhang Wenhong through the CCTV news platform, interacted with hundreds of millions of viewers live, and answered questions from different angles. The embassies and consulates in the United States are actively mobilizing various resources to help foreign students solve their problems in various ways. In order to better serve Chinese students and parents in the United States, the embassy in the United States has sorted out several issues that everyone is most concerned about and share with you.
I. What is the current status and situation of the actual outbreak in the United States? The situation is not optimistic, and efforts are made to curb the spread.
(1) Development remains to be seen. As of 11:00 on April 1, the cumulative number of people diagnosed with the new crown virus in the United States was 190,908, and there was a continuous upward trend. President Trump held a daily epidemic briefing, saying that the next 30 days will be critical to slowing the spread of the new crown epidemic. It is expected that the inflection point will arrive as early as two weeks later, and the overall situation will improve in early June. US experts said that although the new crown epidemic may eventually cause more than 1 million infections in the United States based on data model predictions, it is entirely expected to control the number of infections through effective measures.
(2) National General Mobilization. Since the United States entered a state of emergency on March 13, states have also announced "home orders." The entire country, including the federal and state governments, health departments at all levels, private companies, educational institutions and even the military are actively mobilizing resources and taking effective measures to fight the epidemic. At present, the testing and medical treatment process in most areas is stable and orderly, and states are preparing more medical supplies for later use. New York State is the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, with 41% of diagnoses in the United States, and medical resources are scarce. It is reported that more than 40,000 medical staff will volunteer to New York to participate in the ambulance. The naval hospital medical ship has arrived in New York Port on March 30 to provide anti-epidemic support. Several countries, including China, have provided medical supplies to the United States.
(3) High level of medical care. The US government and society have greater productive potential and mobilization capabilities. Abbott Laboratories has developed a rapid tester, which is expected to reach 5 million monthly tests in the future. Most of the infected people are self-healing mild patients, about 20% -30% will turn to pneumonia, the proportion of severe patients is small, and the proportion of ICU beds per 100,000 people in the United States ranks first in the world.
(4) Good social order. After the states entered a state of emergency, the first reaction of some Americans was to go to the supermarket to buy, resulting in a temporary shortage of some supplies. At present, epidemic prevention supplies such as masks are still scarce, and supplies of living goods are good. The vast majority of Americans are aware of the seriousness of the crisis, have begun to take rational and proactive measures to prevent and control them, and carry out out-of-home activities such as purchasing and training under the requirements of the "House Order" to consciously maintain social distance .
Second, go or stay? Personal choice is supported, and careful weighing is recommended.
(1) Comprehensive assessment of risks. Whether or not to return to China requires a careful, thorough and calm decision after evaluating various factors. Fully understand your health and assess the risk of infection at the airport or in the cabin during long journeys. At present, about 32% of the imported patients diagnosed in China are international students, and the possibility of infection during travel is not low. If you choose to return to your country, you should try your best to protect yourself during travel, and isolate them in accordance with relevant domestic regulations, and truthfully declare your health. Regardless of whether or not to return to China, you should maintain communication with the relevant departments or mentors of your university to avoid affecting normal academic studies.
(2) It is guaranteed to stay in the United States. More than 90% of the more than 400,000 Chinese students studying in the United States still choose to study in the United States. If you stay in the US, you don't have to be too anxious. First, the chance of contracting the disease is very low. Three Chinese students in the United States have been diagnosed, of which one has been cured and the other two have been promptly diagnosed. Second, international students have purchased medical insurance, which can cover medical expenses to varying degrees. The third is that the embassy and consulate in the United States will provide strong support to protect their children.
(3) Pay attention to authoritative information. No matter what kind of situation they are in, international students are always children of the motherland. They not only have a sense of responsibility to return home and report to the country, but also have the spirit of worrying about the country, and they also have the rights and interests protected by the motherland. International students in the United States should strengthen their self-judgment, pay more attention to the authoritative release of the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and mainstream media such as the People's Daily and Xinhua News Agency. Do not affect emotions and feelings because of untrue statements of news or reposts.
3. Can I open more flights for international students? We will actively respond to requests for coordination and guarantee.
The embassy in the United States has immediately reflected to China the problems of shortage of air tickets and student detention due to flight shrinkage. Especially in the summer season, more international students will be required to return to China. The relevant person in charge of the Civil Aviation Administration of China has stated that for cities with concentrated demand and flight destinations capable of preventing and controlling epidemic conditions, major air transport guarantee mechanisms will be activated as appropriate to provide temporary overtime and charter flights. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the embassy and consulate in the United States will maintain close communication with the relevant departments such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Civil Aviation Administration, actively and comprehensively feedback the reasonable demands of foreign students, coordinate the domestic and international epidemic prevention and control situations, and fully coordinate Protect the flight needs of international students in the United States.
How do I get the necessary protection? The mother traveled thousands of miles to worry, and sent health packs thousands of miles.
In order to put the party and the country's concern on international students into practice, the embassy and consulates in the United States have already acted for the first time, and provided some foreign students who have been affected by the epidemic severely by including methods such as adjusting material reserves in the museum and raising procurement of epidemic prevention materials. Supplies and health kits for immunization guides. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the purchase of large quantities of epidemic prevention materials in China. After delivery, the libraries will be distributed to international students through the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (Chinese Students' Union or Chinese Student Union, etc.) of each school.
5. How can international students be better protected in the United States? The wind and rain flutter outside the window, self-isolation is king.
(1) Three keywords: house! House! House! Close contact is the main risk of infection. Young Americans' low awareness of pre-protection, "blind", and more social activities are important reasons for the high infection rate of young people. Chinese international students should give full play to their "home" strengths and adhere to the principle of "not going out without going out." Especially be able to stand up to loneliness, not to visit each other and party. Keep the living environment clean. It is recommended to ventilate 2-3 times a day. Maintain good personal hygiene, change laundry frequently, cover with elbows or paper towels when sneezing. Live with others to observe abnormalities such as fever and cough at any time, take the initiative to take self-protection measures, and advise the other party to protect them. In short, no matter how many people are diagnosed, if you "home" is good, it is sunny.
(2) Wash your hands frequently, drink water often, and buy online. In addition to online shopping platforms such as Amazon, Costco supermarkets in the United States and some Chinese supermarkets have opened door-to-door services to meet basic daily needs. If you really need to make purchases abroad, you can ask for help from students who have personal transportation, or choose Asian supermarkets that wear masks as the norm, or go when the number of sales staff is small, reduce close contact with others, and maintain 6 feet ( About 1.8) meters above the distance. Keep gloves or toilet paper with you. Avoid touching foreign objects with your hands. Always wash your hands frequently, not less than 20 seconds at a time.
(3) Make a note of frequently used telephones and check the alternate address. International students can inquire on the official website of relevant departments and save the contact information of the CDC, the local health department, the epidemic department of the university in charge, and the academic federation, the embassy and consulate insurance department, and the education department of their jurisdiction in their mobile phones. Query the address of the local patient to be tested and admitted, and take photos of personal related documents. If you suspect that you are infected, you should go to the test as soon as possible, and wear a mask and gloves during this period to avoid touching the face. If the diagnosis is unfortunate, you should immediately contact the embassy and consulate and inform your school. At the same time, you should go to the local medical institution for treatment and follow the doctor's advice to observe or stay at home.
(4) Putting safety first, parents are not in a hurry. Studying abroad safely has always been the topic that governments, schools, parents, relatives and friends care about most. Under the current epidemic situation, the embassy and consulates in the United States supported the difficulties encountered by American students in their studies, life, and psychology by pairing the Chinese Federation of Students with the local overseas Chinese delegations, foreign students and fellow associations, and alumni associations. International students can also establish a mutual WeChat group between students in the same department, the same dispatch unit or the same place of residence through their circle of friends, to share and report the situation at any time. If you are discriminated against by words or deeds or face security issues, please contact the embassy or consulate in the United States in time, or you can ask the U.S. police and report to the school as soon as possible.
6. Are American universities driving Chinese students away from their dormitories? Individual reports have overstated that students will not be displaced.
There are indeed many US universities that have announced that they will be forced to close their dormitories, asking students to move out of their dormitories within a time limit. First of all, this is a school initiative to reduce aggregation and prevent the spread of the virus on campus. It targets all students, not just Chinese students. This initiative does have some impact on student housing and security issues. Second, after receiving student feedback and explaining the situation, most American schools responded positively and proposed solutions, or agreed to allow international students to continue to reside on campus, or to be concentrated in a school dormitory, or refunded to students who have already rented an apartment. Partial tuition. If students are having difficulty with accommodation, they can contact the embassy or consulate in the United States at any time.
In order to protect the rights and interests of Chinese students studying abroad, the embassy and consulates in the United States not only coordinate accommodation with schools, but also send letters to national educational institutions and major colleges and universities in the United States, calling on them to resist discrimination and prejudice, and to ensure fair treatment and personal safety for students. Many institutions and universities take the initiative to care for Chinese students and scholars, and regard them as an important part of the campus. During the severe domestic epidemic, many American institutions and universities extended their loving hands, expressing greetings and support to the Chinese people, partners, students and scholars through various methods such as mail, video, and open letters. The American International Education Association (IIE) also provides special scholarships for international students affected by the outbreak. Human glory can always be seen in times of crisis. The embassy also expects that Chinese students, while protecting themselves, can care and greet teachers and friends in the United States, tolerate and understand each other, and give thanks and help.
No matter what happens to the epidemic situation, whether you choose to return to China or stay in the United States, you will always be watched, cared for, and cared for. Please believe that the light of returning home will always light up for you, the motherland will always be by your side! The embassies and consulates in the United States will definitely stand by the storms with everyone, work together to respond to the epidemic, and protect everyone's safety and health. As long as the students are present, the embassy or consulate will not retreat. The Chinese Embassy in the United States will definitely stick to its post, overcome the difficulties with everyone, and welcome the final victory together.