To avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus pneumonia via entry and exit trips, Heilongjiang in Northeast China has ramped up measures -- requiring inbound travelers from severe virus-hit Japan and South Korea to undergo 14-day isolated observation at government-provided centralized isolation observation units.
 
That’s according to a statement released by the information office of the Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Government on March 5.
 
South Korea and Japan are traditional and important trading partners of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces in northeastern China region and they have close personnel exchanges.
 
Authorities said that from Feb 15-29, there were many people coming from South Korea and Japan entering Heilongjiang through the airports in the province, or transferring from other provinces' entry ports, which put pressure on prevention and control measures for imported virus cases.
 
Officials said that based on the situation, Heilongjiang  set up centralized isolation observation units in its Harbin and Mudanjiang cities, respectively.
 
The new policy requires all inbound travelers from the above-mentioned countries via Heilongjiang’s ports to undergo isolation observation in Harbin or Mudanjiang, according to the principle of distance proximity.
 
The government will provide free dining and accommodation services for passengers in the centralized isolation observation units.
 
For inbound travelers entering Heilongjiang via transferring at other provinces' entry ports, the Heilongjiang government requires them undergo 14-day observation at home or at Heilongjiang’s centralized isolation observation units on a voluntary basis.
 
In addition, Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin provinces have initiated consultations and cooperation mechanisms.
 
This allows them to engage in inter-provincial epidemic information sharing, cooperate in consultations, judgments, epidemic management, emergency responses, inbound traveler centralized transfers, and timely treatments.
 
Officials said a joint virus prevention and control work pattern is gradually forming in Northeast China region.