China Reports 39 COVID-19 Reimported Cases... Intensified Blocking Measures (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China recorded zero new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days. All 39 new confirmed cases classified by Chinese authorities were imported cases from overseas, not infections within China. Premier Li Keqiang, following President Xi Jinping's directive to fully block overseas imported COVID-19 cases, ordered strengthened airport quarantine measures and urged the public to refrain from unnecessary overseas travel.

According to the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, on the 20th, Premier Li held a meeting of the COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group to seek measures to block the spread of imported cases. Li stated, "The overseas spread of COVID-19 is rapidly progressing, increasing the number of imported cases in China and intensifying control pressures. We must strengthen international cooperation and properly manage quarantine measures on flights."

He emphasized the need to strengthen quarantine and prevention measures for flights arriving from key COVID-19 outbreak regions, instructing, "Those who falsify information or conceal illness must be held accountable according to the law." He also said, "Travel alerts should be updated to raise awareness of risks associated with cross-border travel and unnecessary overseas trips," adding, "Outbound and inbound travel services will be suspended."

Premier Li explained, "Passenger transport across borders by road will also be suspended, and management of international passenger ships will be strengthened. Areas with a high risk of imported cases should enhance supplies of quarantine materials and medicines, and medical and quarantine facilities must be well prepared in advance."

In Beijing, where imported cases are rapidly increasing, some international flights operated by Chinese airlines will be redirected to nearby cities such as Tianjin starting today. After undergoing quarantine procedures there, only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to enter Beijing. Accordingly, at 5:20 PM today, the Air China flight arriving from Japan to Beijing will land in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia instead of Beijing and undergo quarantine procedures.

From the 23rd, this measure will be expanded to all airlines flying to Beijing, requiring them to stop at intermediate transit points first. Korean Air will use Qingdao as its transit point, and Asiana Airlines will use Dalian. Beijing city is also strengthening control measures for overseas arrivals, requiring them to undergo mandatory 14-day self-funded quarantine at designated accommodations.

On the same day, the National Health Commission of China announced that as of midnight, there were 39 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3 additional deaths in China. For two consecutive days, no new cases were reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak.

All 39 newly registered confirmed cases were imported from overseas. Guangdong Province reported 14 cases, Shanghai 8, Beijing 6, Fujian Province 3, and one additional imported case each was reported in Tianjin, Liaoning Province, Heilongjiang Province, Zhejiang Province, Shandong Province, Guangxi Province, Sichuan Province, and Gansu Province. The total number of imported cases has reached 228.

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