Warm winter

SHENZHEN has had its second-warmest winter in recorded history, according to the city’s meteorological bureau. The average recorded temperature of the winter period from December 2019 to February this year was 18.1 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degrees higher than the period’s average temperature. Winter 2019 is only cooler than last winter’s average temperature of 18.3 degrees Celsius, official figures showed.

The bureau said Shenzhen has had five warm winters since 1953 in 1998, 2008, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Subsidies for the needy

THE city has distributed more than 33 million yuan (US$4.72 million) in subsidies to low-income families and special groups, such as orphans and the physically challenged, this year, according to Shenzhen Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. COVID-19 prevention gear including 58,600 face masks and other daily necessities have also been distributed to help them tide over the epidemic outbreak.

In addition, 35 new temporary shelters have been set up across the city for the homeless during citywide efforts to contain the novel coronavirus.