To assist expats who cannot return to China due to the pandemic, Yiwu, Zhejiang province is offering a two-month extension on work permits and visas, local media reported on April 21.

A South Korean businessman surnamed Jin was one of the first beneficiaries of the move. The postponement application of his original work permit can be submitted within the next 30 to 90 days.

Mr. Jin already missed the original application deadline, so he must return to South Korea to have all necessary documents reissued.

"If I return to South Korea, then I would need to be quarantined for 14 days there and then another 14 days after returning to China. That's a whole month of quarantine!" said Jin.

Over the last few days, Yiwu City has collected health information on over 5,200 expats from 119 enterprises, communicating with them through QQ and WeChat groups and providing them with real-time business consultation services.

To help enterprises resume operations, local authorities have introduced many convenient measures, including setting up an online application system that eliminates the need to submit paper documents.