COVID-19 curbs: Guangzhou says it treats foreigners equally

All foreign nationals in Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province, are treated equally like the Chinese nationals when it comes to enforcing the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, a municipal police official said at a daily press briefing on Sunday.

"We highly value the safety of foreigners and protect their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law. We treat them the same like Chinese nationals without discrimination in the enforcement of anti-virus measures," Cai Wei, an officer of the city's public security bureau told the media.

He also urged foreign nationals in Guangzhou to abide by Chinese laws and local regulations, warning those not being cooperative could face punishment and investigation.

Rumors and criticisms have emerged recently, accusing the city of mistreating foreigners, especially Africans during the coronavirus pandemic, which the municipal government has dispelled. 

According to its mayor, Guangzhou has registered 479 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 119 were imported and 13 were infections related to the imported ones. 

Of the 119 imported cases, 25 are foreigners and 94 Chinese.