"Stop the Reverse Inflow of COVID-19" China on High Alert Again (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Correspondent Park Sun-mi] As the spread of COVID-19 in China enters a stabilization phase, the government is focusing on strengthening quarantine measures to prevent the resurgence of cases imported from overseas.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 10th, Premier Li Keqiang held a COVID-19 response meeting the previous day and urged the strengthening of international cooperation to prevent the spread of imported cases.

Premier Li pointed out, "Although China's COVID-19 prevention situation is continuously improving, we are facing a new challenge of rapid COVID-19 spread outside China," and said, "We must enhance international cooperation and properly manage quarantine for inbound and outbound travelers."

He explained, "We need to share information related to entry and exit, properly disinfect and report aircraft, and conduct health declarations and temperature checks on passengers," adding, "If the health and quarantine departments observe incoming travelers and determine them to be confirmed cases, suspected cases, or close contacts, they must properly implement measures such as testing, transfer, treatment, isolation, and medical observation according to regulations."

He also ordered, "In areas with many inbound and outbound travelers like Beijing, quarantine management must be meticulously conducted according to the law." Furthermore, he urged, "We must establish a cooperative system with the education departments of countries experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks to minimize the bilateral movement of international students."

Li Hui, Deputy Director of the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, also called on foreigners to refrain from going out during a press conference the previous day to prevent the spread of imported COVID-19 cases. He said, "Currently, COVID-19 is spreading worldwide, and there have already been consecutive imported cases in Beijing," adding, "We hope foreigners in Beijing reduce unnecessary outings as much as possible."

Beijing Airport has strengthened quarantine and control measures from this day to prevent overseas imported COVID-19 cases. According to the aviation industry, from this day forward, all flights arriving in Beijing from South Korea and Japan will arrive at a separate gate in Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport. Accordingly, Korean Air flights landing at Beijing Airport, which previously used Terminal 2, will be changed to Terminal 3 from this day.

All passengers arriving from South Korea and Japan will be quarantined for 14 days and cannot individually travel to their residences using separate vehicles. Those residing in Beijing will be transported to their homes by vehicles prepared by the city government and then undergo self-quarantine. Non-residents of Beijing will be transported by government-prepared vehicles to government-designated hotels for quarantine.

China has also decided to temporarily suspend visa exemptions for Japanese tourists starting this day. The suspended visa exemption applies to travel, visiting friends, and transit purposes. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously recognized visa exemptions for Japanese nationals staying within 15 days.

Meanwhile, on the 9th, China reported only 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 17 additional deaths in one day. On the 10th, the National Health Commission of China announced that as of midnight, there were 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in China. Of these 19 cases, 17 were reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, known as the origin of COVID-19. The remaining two were newly reported imported cases from overseas in Beijing (1) and Guangdong Province (1).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.