Trade, logistics recover from pandemic

Guiyang measures to minimize the adverse effect posed by the recent COVID-19 outbreaks have proved effective, with both trade and logistics resuming, according to local news reports on Oct 4.

"So far, 115 out of the 175 stores in Qingyun Market have resumed operations," said Zhang Fenglan, an official in charge of the market's investment. Store owners must ensure that there are sufficient workers and supplies for business, while also meeting all current pandemic prevention and control requirements, Zhang added.

The number of shoppers at the market continued to surge during the National Day holiday from Oct 1 to 7. Over the first three days of the holiday, the market saw about 7,000 daily visits – about 40 percent of its previous level.

Statistics show that on Oct 3, 85 percent of business operators in Guiyang's commercial and trading sectors had resumed work, with all fresh produce and general markets, 68.89 percent of the farm produce markets, and 98.62 percent of the chain convenient stories having opened.

"It is a lot easier to order takeouts than before, and deliverymen receive orders as soon as we place them," said a local resident surnamed Li. She can now receive meals within half an hour.

The express delivery industry is also recovering from the hit. "We have more than 16,000 parcels stocked in the parcel processing center due to the pandemic. When we received the work resumption notice on Sept 27, all 48 workers got back to work, hoping to make up for the delay," said a staff member from a local express delivery company.

Data indicate that three provincial parcel processing centers owned by China Post, SF Express, and JD have resumed operations, with some 1.3 million parcels distributed daily on average.