The Chinese government has ordered actions to be taken to safeguard those working in sweltering temperatures against heatstroke. This move comes as the country has been gripped by the scorching summer heat.

According to the requirements in the actions, medical and health administrative agencies should strengthen supervision and guidance to employers in industries prone to heatstroke, guide them to timely rectify problems found in inspections, and punish illegal acts in accordance with the law, read a circular jointly issued by the National Health Commission and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is necessary for authorities to issue high temperature alerts in a timely manner, the circular said, urging employers to improve their workplace conditions and carry out training on heatstroke prevention and first aid procedures.

Coordinated efforts should be made to strengthen the protection of risk groups including furnace workers, personnel loading and unloading goods in the open air, street cleaners, and couriers.

More than 2 million square kilometers in China, covering Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan and Shandong, suffered from heatwaves last week, with temperatures passing 35 degrees Celsius on some days.

Amid the heatwave, the construction site of a underground transportation hub in Beijing has entered the critical period. To ensure the safety of workers, the team of this project prepared medicines, ice beverages and other supplies to prevent a heatstroke for the workers. At the same time, adjustments are also made in the construction time to avoid the hottest time.

Apart from Beijing, Handan City in Hebei Province also re-modeled police stations into "sentry boxes" with air conditioners, bottled water and medicines, and were opened to street cleaners, couriers and passers-by in order to prevent effects caused by extreme heat.

(With input from Xinhua)

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