Jinan makes life more pleasant in COVID era

To enrich life for people who are confined at home by COVID-19, Jinan, Shandong province, has rolled out a series of benefits, including free access to TV programs and online classes, the city's epidemic prevention and control headquarters said on Monday.

Around 370,000 cable TV users have been given two-months of free access to pay-per-view TV programs from Nov 18, said Zhang Rong of the comprehensive coordination group at the headquarters.

Customers have more free video choices available, covering popular films, TV dramas, general entertainment programs and children's programs, said Ren Xiaorui, deputy head of the Jinan bureau of culture and tourism.

The city's public cultural facilities, such as libraries and museums, have launched online reading and exhibition channels. The Jinan Library is offering free access to more than 30 categories of e-book resources. People can read the-books using a mini program without registering. The library has also added some new radio dramas and talk shows for listening.

The Jinan Cultural Center has released online concerts, intangible cultural heritage shows and arts exhibitions. It plans to offer free online classes in music, dance, art and calligraphy.

Jinan reported 18 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 250 local asymptomatic carriers on Monday.