Support during Coronavirus

Whilst we could never have predicted the terrible outbreak of Coronavirus in China, which originated in Hubei’s provincial capital of Wuhan, we can ensure that our team are following the guidelines set out by our Chinese partners and the Chinese government.

What do we know?

The Chinese government is doing everything they can to isolate, contain and eliminate the virus. Over the past week, it has been Chinese New Year, which brings mass travel and migration. CNY is due to end on 31st January but has been extended to 3rd February.

Those who do not work within ‘vital’ industries have been advised to work from home 3rd February - 9th February and to keep all non-essential travel to a minimum.

Wuhan, and many other cities within the Hubei province, is in lockdown. Whilst this isn’t a likely location for fieldwork, it’s important to be aware of this for any conversations with clients.

How do we support our partners in China?

The most essential thing we can do, to ensure our partners on the ground feel supported, is to take their advice. Here at Further, we’re taking it day by day and listening to what our fantastic partners in China advises on next steps.

Understand that face-to-face research is not possible until at least week commencing 17th February, but that this is likely to be revised to a much later date.

Crucially, avoid all work travel (or otherwise) to China. This remains, for now, from February through to the end of March.

Take into consideration the affected locations when discussing fieldwork for the next 6-8 months.

What next?

Whether you’re working alongside agencies or freelancers in China, it’s crucial to keep in contact to understand how the industry as a whole can support our network of peers.

We'll be sure to keep you updated.