China uses big data to block imported COVID-19 cases

China's immigration authorities have shared nearly 200,000 pieces of entry and exit information with the customs and health administrations and help find more than 100 cases of imported novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The findings accounted for one-third of the total imported COVID-19 patients in China, said Liu Haitao, with the National Immigration Administration (NIA) at a press conference held in Beijing Monday.

The NIA has established a data-sharing mechanism with domestic and foreign airlines to acquire the information of inbound passengers for customs authorities to carry out quarantine efforts, said Liu, adding that the NIA has set up designated quarantine areas at land, sea, and air border ports to check passengers from countries with major COVID-19 outbreaks.

The NIA also shares the information of entry and exit of personnel with provincial-level epidemic containing authorities every other hour each day to help curb the virus outbreak, Liu said.