Table 2.
Summary of Governmental Policies Regarding Three Scenarios.
| Scenarios | Strict Policies Implemented Nationwide during the Pandemic | Special Policies Issued by the State in November 2020 to Support Older Adults |
|---|---|---|
|
Transportation (Health code, digital payment and online booking are required) |
Only a valid health code or pass code (green) is accepted as travel permit. | Health code should not be the only legitimate travel permit. Alternative certificates such as ID cards and valid paper travel permits issued by the local authority should also be optional for the older adults. |
| When taking public transportation, a valid health code (green) is compulsory. | Older people should be allowed to use ID cards, social security cards, and senior cards when they take city public transportation. | |
| Public areas such as tourist attractions, cultural centres, and museums need to be reserved online in advance. Train tickets needs to be booked online. | For public places whose their access needs to be reserved, manual service desks and telephone lines should be available. A certain number of onsite ticket quotas should be reserved for older people. | |
| Medical Care (Health code, online booking and digital payment are required) |
All the onsite appointment desks are cancelled except for emergencies and fever clinic. Appointments can be only made through internet or telephone. | Medical institutions should provide multiple choices for older people to make an appointment and keep a certain number of appointments available on site. Medical institutions should keep service desks for registration, payment, and printing the test reports. Volunteers, social workers, and other personnel should be available to help older people. |
| Individuals without appointments and valid health codes or pass codes (green) are not allowed to enter medical care institutions. | Online medical care process should be simplified; voice instruction and in-person counselling for older people should be provided. Medical institutions should allow older people to use their ID cards, social security cards and other certificates when they take medical care services. Face recognition technology is encouraged to be adopted in medical institutions. | |
| Consumption (Online ordering and digital payment are required) |
In the lockdown situation, goods can only be purchased or ordered online, and digital payment is required. | No shops and individuals can refuse payment in cash. Cash and bank cards should be accepted in popular consumption places for older people, such as stores, markets, restaurants, parks, electronic and water bill payment units, as well as other administration bill payment units. |
Source: National and provincial policies on pandemic prevention and control in China.