Customs releases details of infected cases

Shanghai Customs released details of two passengers' entry to China through the city after they had been confirmed with coronavirus disease in Shaanxi and Zhejiang provinces.

Ye Jian, deputy head of customs, said at Tuesday's government press conference that one passenger, surnamed Zhang, had traveled to Hong Kong from Indonesia on March 13 and transferred a flight to Shanghai.

Customs officers found Zhang had a fever during checks but he had not been to any affected regions or been in contact with any confirmed or suspected cases.

After a quick screening, medics released Zhang after taking a sample for a nucleic acid test and telling him to see a doctor as soon as possible.

On March 15, the customs' lab reported that the test was positive. The customs then traced Zhang and reported to his local health authority. Officers soon contacted Zhang and were told he had gone to hospital for treatment.

Zhang was confirmed as a coronavirus patient on Monday by the health authority in Shannxi Province.

The other passenger, Zhao, took a flight from London to Shanghai on March 13. Zhao’s temperature was normal and displayed no symptoms on arrival. There was no mention of any history of travel to epidemic-stricken regions.

Zhao was picked up by family members and received home-bound quarantine in Zhejiang Province.

On Monday, Zhao had a fever and saw a doctor in Hangzhou who confirmed he had the infection. 

Zheng Jin, a spokeswoman for the Shanghai Heath Commission, said the 26 local close contacts of Zhang had all been kept in quarantine and the areas where they had been have all been disinfected.

Zhao hasn't been to any area in Shanghai. The health commission cooperated with officials in Zhejiang Province and worked with customs and police to trace Zhao's close contacts on the same flight.

Shanghai Customs now gives onboard checks to passengers on flights from 16 countries with coronavirus disease and provides temperature screening and health declaration checks for all inbound passengers.

Those with symptoms will be sent to designated hospitals. For people who don't show obvious symptoms but are at risk of being infected, they will be delivered to quarantine sites for medical observation.