Guangdong sets rules for coming travel rush

Concrete measures are being introduced to help prevent the spread of coronavirus infections and to ensure the smooth and safe flow of traffic in Guangdong province during the coming Spring Festival travel rush.

According to Yang Junbo, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transportation, all front-line staff who work in the province's airports, railway stations, bus terminals, metro stations, ports, harbors, exit-entry checkpoints, road toll stations and related traffic units will be required to be vaccinated by the end of January.

Meanwhile disinfection procedures will be enhanced in the waiting rooms of airports and in railway stations, bus terminals, highway service areas and related public venues in the weeks ahead, Yang said at a news conference in Guangzhou on Thursday.

Weng Xinggen, director of the integrated transport division of Yang's department, said all passengers will be required to wear face masks, have their body temperatures measured and show their health codes when they enter airports, railway stations and bus terminals.

"Transportation departments will establish special emergency task forces to help handle any emergencies during the travel rush and will join hands with police and disease prevention and control personnel and relevant departments to strengthen investigations to help plug any loopholes in pandemic prevention and control," he said.

Special experts from provincial disease control and prevention centers are now being invited to help train front-line traffic staff, he said.

"The move aims to ensure a smooth, safe Spring Festival travel rush," Weng said.

This year's 40-day Spring Festival travel rush period will begin on Jan 28. About 15 percent fewer people than last year are expected to travel because of the threat of infection, Weng said.

About 118 million people, or about 70 percent of all travelers, will take buses or cars, he added.

Guangdong, with a population of more than 115 million, has seen a crush of Spring Festival travelers for years. The country's most populous province is a major production base of the world, and it is home to myriad of foreign-funded companies, joint ventures, State-owned enterprises and private companies.