Huanggang City Government Offers 500 Yuan Reward For Fever Patients

Hubei Province - Credit CDC

#14,976


Much of what appears on twitter, or other social media, purporting to show how Mainland China is dealing with their novel coronavirus outbreak is unverifiable.  While some of it is probably legit, there are always political agendas (both pro China propaganda and dissident) at work, and many are likely just click-bait.

While a lot of it is interesting, perhaps even probative, much of it is inflammatory and of unknown pedigree.  Not something I feel comfortable using in this blog. 

But when an official Chinese government website (Quichun County, Hubei Province) announces plans to pay a `reward' for fever patients who refuse to come forward, well - that is something I can use.

It suggests that a significant number people are not seeking medical help when they, or a member of their family, shows signs of infection.  Given the reports of long waits at crowded hospitals and fears over being detained in quarantine centers, a certain amount of reluctance is not unexpected.

Using a carrot and stick approach, the program offers a 500 yuan ($71.50 USD) `carrot' for fever patients who voluntarily seek medical care.

• Furthermore, it authorizes a 500 yuan reward to `epidemic prevention and control personnel of all levels' who - in the course of their investigations - uncover suspected cases.

• It also encourages `all sectors of society to supervise and report' suspected cases, and report them to local officials.  A 500 yuan reward is offered for each case reported. 

The `stick' comes at the end of the announcement.  Apparently anyone with symptoms who fails to turn themselves in (before someone does it for them)  - or who refuses medical care - will be investigated and `punished' according to law.

Huanggang City is a Prefecture Level City of more than 6 million people, about 35 miles east of Wuhan. As of last night's Hubei Province report, they had recorded 2823 cases and 75 deaths.

Whether this policy is a sign of increasing concern over an out-of-control epidemic - or a `mopping up' operation of stragglers - is difficult to say.  So far, Huanggang City has reported a small fraction of the number of cases reported in nearby Wuhan.

The full (translated) announcement follows:

Announcement of the Headquarters for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia Epidemic Caused by New Coronavirus (No. 20)

Published Date: 2020-02-16

In order to earnestly realize the early detection and diagnosis of the fever, prevent the invisible patients from infecting other people, and ensure the life safety of the general public, the matters concerning rewarding the fever patients in Huanggang City for visiting are hereby announced as follows:

I. Any resident who has fever, cough or any other symptom shall report to the community (village) where he lives immediately, and the community (village) shall arrange special personnel to escort him to the fever clinic of the designated hospital for treatment. A lump sum reward of 500 yuan shall be given to the persons who take the initiative to see a doctor.

2. The epidemic prevention and control personnel at all levels shall conduct in-depth search and inspection, and if any new heat-generating person is found in the search, they shall promptly arrange to go to the fever clinic of a designated hospital for treatment. A one-time reward of 500 yuan shall be given to the prevention and control staff.

3. All circles of society shall be encouraged to supervise the reporting. If the public finds any new person generating heat, they shall immediately report to the community (village) where they are located, and upon investigation, a lump sum reward of 500 yuan shall be given. Where two or more persons report the offense one after another, the first person who reports the offense shall be rewarded.

4. The reward funds shall be paid by the communities (villages) where they are located at the earliest possible time, and shall be registered and recorded in the register. After the end of the epidemic situation, the municipal headquarters for prevention and control of the epidemic situation shall make unified arrangements.

5. The public security organ shall intervene in the investigation of the persons who fail to report their illnesses or refuse to receive medical treatment, and investigate and punish them according to law.

6. This Announcement shall come into force as of February 16, 2020, and the deadline for notification shall be separately based on the epidemic situation.