Guangdong has taken a series of measures to prevent imported COVID-19 cases and stem the cross-border spread of the virus, according to a statement from the Guangdong Health Commission at the press conference on March 4.

[Photo by Cao Yaqin / Southcn.com]

The announcement indicates Guangdong will continue to adjust its quarantine policy for international arrivals considering the epidemic situation at the global level.

The province will require a 14-day self-quarantine or medical observation of both Chinese and foreign nationals if their destination is Guangdong and come from countries and regions with grave epidemic situation such as South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan or with a travel history to the impacted countries and regions in the past 14 days.

As for the passengers who are transferring to other provinces, they will have to follow the measures taken by their destinations. Diplomatic officers will be treated according to related diplomatic regulations if they pass temperature checks.

In addition, Guangdong has tightened entry quarantine and requires all arrivals to fill in a health declaration form based on Chinese laws and regulations. Once any infected patients or suspected cases are detected, they will be transferred to designated hospitals for medical observation and further treatment.

The announcement stresses that Guangdong will implement these measures without any discrimination, taking into full consideration the legitimate concerns of the persons involved and offer them necessary guarantees and assistance.

Guangdong reveals details about the first imported case

The 93 close contacts of the first imported COVID-19 case in Guangdong were successfully traced, of which 69 are under medical observation in Shenzhen while 24 have travelled away from the city, according to the Guangdong Health Commission at the press conference on March 3.

The male patient surnamed Sun, aged 35, is a resident of the Hong Shu Fu Yuan (红树福苑) in Futian, Shenzhen. He had been working in Bristol in the United Kingdom for the past two years.

An official of the epidemic control and prevention department disinfects a ferry at Shekou Port in Shenzhen. [Photo by Liu Youzhi / Nanfang Metropolis Daily]

Sun took the flight CX250 from London to Hong Kong on February 27th. He arrived at Hong Kong Airport at 13:27 on 28th, and then took a ferry (No. 3A109) to Shenzhen Shekou Port at 15:30. He showed no temperature abnormalities at the port and took a taxi home after arrival. According to Sun, he wore mask during the whole process and didn't go out after having arrived home.

Sun started to show symptoms of coughing and fever on February 29th. His wife drove him to the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University in Futian. He was tested positive for the coronavirus at 21:00 on 29th and at the midnight of March 1.

Sun has since been transferred to the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, and his condition remains stable. The epidemic control department has disinfected his apartment and the areas that he has been to.

As of March 3rd, 93 close contacts of Sun have been tracked down. 69 are under medical observation in Shenzhen (four family members, one taxi driver, 11 crew members of the ferry, 51 passengers on the ferry, two customs staff members). All of them tested negative for the coronavirus.

Latest figures for COVID-19 cases in Guangdong