Faced with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, SZBL has activated emergent research to investigate for the control and prevention of the coronavirus epidemic.
On January 21, 2020, QIU Xuan, Deputy Director of the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality met with SZBL scientists including Prof. WU Yun-Dong, Prof. YANG Zhen and Prof. GAN Wenbiao to discuss possible plans and measures for the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus. Together with Dr. ZHONG Guocai, a researcher of SZBL and also expert on virus, the group also went to the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen to launch coordinated scientific study against the novel coronavirus. This coordinated study will be focused on the prevention and treatment for the novel coronavirus, infection mechanism of the pseudovirus of 2019-nCoV and the evaluation system for the efficacy of anti-virus drugs.
After the meeting, SZBL leadership instructed work on inter-lab prevention of the coronavirus epidemic. SZBL has set up work group for the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus. Group members included SZBL leadership WU Yun-Dong and TU Huan as well as directors and heads of all institutes and departments. The work group will ensure all related liaison, monitoring, checking and report mechanisms against the epidemic be effectively implemented. SZBL has united the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen to conduct joint study on the coronavirus and to strengthen the ability on control and prevention of outbreaks concerning diseases. The Laboratory also issued emergency notices and transmitted official documents from government ministries to guide and instruct the work on preventing the spread of novel coronavirus.
Supporting department of SZBL started disinfection work for the office areas in advance to ensure office hygiene. Requirements are also made to all SZBL employees that each individual especially those who need early resumption to work shall note in advance to the health responsible person. Each of employee shall wear a mask at workplace. The Laboratory will also establish health profiles for employees including temperature monitoring and personal activity records in case of any involvement in coronavirus affected areas.
SZBL has taken measures to avoid convening and any possibility that may cause cross infection. Video conference is adopted instead of face-to-face meeting. Working via network, Wechat and email are highly recommended across the Laboratory. Resumption to work of all SZBL employees is postponed while telecommuting and flexible working are provisionally implemented to maintain the operation of the Laboratory.
SZBL keeps strict monitoring and record of each employee every 3 days. Employees who are from affected areas or had close contacts with person from affected areas will be reported and put in the Laboratory’s record. Employees who temporarily stayed in affected areas will receive one-to-one monitoring by the health responsible person and the condition shall be reported each day. Employees who had been to affected areas will also be monitored with conditions reported.
Under the serious circumstances caused by the coronavirus outbreak, SZBL has launched proactive responses to start study on this epidemic and taken every possible measure to ensure the health and safety of all employees. SZBL demonstrates the determination to fight the coronavirus outbreak and will make the most of its strengths to control and prevent the spread and harm from the epidemic.
