China adopts entry management over sailors to prevent imported COVID-19 cases

APD NEWS

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China's transport ministry said Monday it will adopt stricter management over sailors on international ships amid the country's battle of preventing imported novel coronavirus disease cases.

Yang Xinzhai, an official with the Ministry of Transport, said that containing imported infections by sailors has been a focus of their anti-virus works, as China has suspended all international cruise lines originating from ports on the Chinese mainland since late January.

By the end of May, the country will see around 10,000 Chinese crews disembarking from ships, Yang said, therefore, precise measures should be adopted to strengthen epidemic control and prevention during their shift changes.

Ship crew members who have sailed for more than 14 days and show no symptoms before arrival will be allowed to go ashore, while those with interval time less than 14 days will be required to quarantine for further observation.

Foreign sailors who sailed through countries or regions with a serious epidemic situation within the past 14 days will not be granted entry at sea ports in accordance with related policies, Yang said.