Beijing authorities at a press conference on Sunday vowed to take a series of updated measures to curb imported COVID-19 cases, including advising returnees to take direct flights, requesting them to strictly follow 14+7 days of medical observation upon entering China, and strengthening management of a local medium-risk community where a recent confirmed case stayed.
According to the local health commission, two imported cases were confirmed on Saturday, and no local case was reported.
Of the two cases, one, a Russian, came from Moscow on December 10 and the other, a Chinese, came from Pakistan on Friday.
At the press conference, Liu Xiaofeng, deputy director of the Beijing CDC, advised the returnees to carefully understand the requests for testing for antibodies and nucleic acid in relevant countries and regions, and choose direct flights as far as possible to avoid the risk of infection caused by transit stops.
Liu said the returnees are requested to strictly follow 14+7 days of medical observation upon entering China and comply with all prevention and control requirements.
Liu said during the season of high risk for infectious diseases in winter and spring, measures such as wearing masks, taking temperatures and checking health codes, ventilation and disinfection, and maintaining social distances should be strictly implemented at key areas including local supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, airports and theaters.
Employees in key industries such as cold-chain logistics, express delivery and taxi services must be strictly protected from the COVID-19 epidemic, Liu noted.
Also, Beijing authorities said they would step up the risk management and control for a local medium-risk area, the Dashanzi branch of Hanting Hotel in Chaoyang district and other stores in the building, after two confirmed cases - close contacts of a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 on December 14 -- stayed in the hotel on Friday.
This is the first time the capital announced a medium-risk area since July 20.
