Local authorities across China are taking various measures to combat a sweltering heat wave, as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country.

On Saturday, as middle school students embarked on their senior high school entrance examinations, dedicated volunteers in Beijing, which has been gripped by record June heat the past few days, set up service points near schools to provide essential heat alleviation supplies for the test sitters.

These supplies, including water, stools, medicines and other necessities, were given out for free to ensure the comfort and safety of students during the exams.

"To cope with the heat, we have prepared patchouli, medicinal oil, drinking water and emergency school supplies for the exam-takers," said Niu Ran, a volunteer from Beijing's Chaoyang District.

In Cangzhou, a city in north China's Hebei Province, a rest station was set up for outdoor workers, with special provisions of water, air conditioning and medicine for sanitation workers and delivery personnel. In Jinan City, Shandong Province, a local construction site distributed watermelon and mung bean water to provide relief for construction workers braving the scorching sun.

In addition, many places have introduced measures to protect the rights and interests of workers during the hot weather.

Workers were asked to stop open-air operations when the daily high temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius in east China's Shandong Province. When the temperature is above 37 but below 40 degrees Celsius, the outdoor operation time should not exceed five hours throughout the day.

In many places in China, such as Hunan Province, starting from July 1, companies are required to provide people working in hot weather with an allowance of no less than 300 yuan per person per month for three months.

Meteorologists forecast that the heat wave is expected to persist for another 10 days in Beijing, Tianjin and other parts of northern China, as well as regions in central China's Henan Province and east China's Anhui Province.

The National Climate Center has indicated that most areas in China can anticipate higher temperatures and longer heat waves than usual throughout the summer season.

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