Chinese airports tighten entry rules to fend off coronavirus influx

Chinese authorities are scrambling to tighten controls at airports and other points of entry for international travellers as the country grapples with an influx of coronavirus cases. Nearly all of China’s new confirmed cases outside Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, are from abroad, mostly the coronavirus hotspots of Iran, Italy and South Korea, according to the National Health Commission. “In some regions abroad, the situation is severe, for example in South Korea, Japan and Italy,” commission spokesman Mi Feng said on Friday. Mi urged authorities throughout China to maintain vigilance, especially with an increase in imported cases. The virus has spread quickly around the world, with the total caseload topping 100,000 on Saturday. But in China, the number of new cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, fell to its lowest in weeks. The country reported 99 new cases on Saturday, down from 143 infections on Friday and 139 on Thursday. The coronavirus, which was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December, has killed 3,073 and infected more than 80,800 in the country. While Wuhan still accounted for the bulk of the new cases, there were no new infections reported elsewhere in Hubei province for a second day, prompting speculation of a possible easing of lockdowns and other harsh control measures. More than 20 provinces have downgraded their alert levels and eased travel and transport restrictions amid calls from top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, for an early return to work to limit the economic fallout from the epidemic. Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily reported that construction on over 90 per cent of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail, airports and water diversion schemes, had already resumed. However, the number of new infections outside Hubei rose for a third consecutive day, from five on Thursday to 25 on Saturday, most as a result of Chinese travellers returning from overseas trips, according to the commission. It said there were 60 confirmed imported cases in total in China, up from 20 two days ago. Amid growing concerns over the global spread of the coronavirus and repeated warnings from medical experts, Chinese authorities began releasing data on imported cases on Thursday. Zhong Nanshan, a leading respiratory disease specialist, warned late last month that China was unlikely to be spared in a global outbreak, with the number of imported cases from other countries set to increase. Of the 25 new imported cases outside Hubei, 24 – including 17 in Gansu, three each in Beijing and Shanghai, and one in Guangdong – were returnees from Iran and Italy, two of the worst-hit countries after China. The northwestern province of Gansu, has so far seen the most imported cases, with the total figure standing at 28. According to local health authorities, the 17 new patients in Gansu were among those who returned from Iran on chartered flights between March 2 and 5. All 28 patients, including 11 reported on Friday, were among 283 travellers from Iran and were under quarantine. Shanghai’s three imported cases were Chinese students who returned from Iran, while the three cases in Beijing were travellers coming back from Italy, which has seen its death toll surged in the past two days. Authorities in both cities have acknowledged that combating the coronavirus remained challenging and said they had stepped up their monitoring and control measures at airports. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong authorities have introduced a 14-day quarantine period for people travelling from the hotspots of Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea in the past week. Qingtian county, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, reported seven imported cases from Italy on Tuesday, all of whom worked at a Chinese restaurant in the northern Italian city of Bergamo. Chinese diplomatic missions around the world have also issued notices in the past week reminding Chinese travellers to avoid long-haul trips, especially to coronavirus hotspots. Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020.

Chinese airports tighten entry rules to fend off coronavirus influx

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Number of confirmed imported cases rises to 60 as Chinese travellers return from overseas Gansu province in country’s northwest reports 28 cases among passengers on flights from Iran

Number of confirmed imported cases rises to 60 as Chinese travellers return from overseas

Gansu province in country’s northwest reports 28 cases among passengers on flights from Iran