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Read about the different safety measures adopted by international airports
China has reportedly planned to increase the checks for international passengers arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport as the imported cases of COVID-19 in China became higher than the local cases.
It has also planned to quarantine all international passengers arriving at the airport.
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) reported that on 15 March, 16 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Mainland China, of which 12 were imported cases.
The total cases of imported infections in the country currently stand at 123.
In light of this data, the government has announced that people arriving in Beijing from other countries will undergo a 14-day quarantine in the city.
Reuters quoted city deputy secretary-general Chen Bei as saying that the people in quarantine will have to bear all expenses incurred during the process.
In some cases, people may be permitted to self-quarantine at home after undergoing strict evaluations.
However, anyone who reports untrue information, does not report their infection or results in the further spread of the disease, will undergo punishment.
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention deputy director Pang Xinghuo has advised residents of the city not to travel to other countries in a bid to decrease the spread of the coronavirus.
Chinese citizens in foreign countries who have been in contact with confirmed cases or who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms themselves have been directed to receive treatment in the country and are not to return to China with symptoms.
Beijing News stated that international arrivals at the new Daxing International Airport are being redirected to Beijing Capital International Airport, where all arrivals will be isolated in a special zone for passenger processing.
Shanghai has also increased passenger screening at its airports last week, leading to around seven-hour-long wait times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has so far killed more than 6,500 and infected over 169,000 people around the world.
The total cases in China stand at around 81,000 while the death toll is 3,217.
