Chinese authorities released guidelines on Monday to further strengthen border health inspection and quarantine to curb the import of COVID-19 cases as overseas infections spiral.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has ranked flights into high, medium or low epidemic risk based on factors such as the epidemic situation in the countries and regions the flight departed from, passenger load and the level of sanitation aboard the flights, for example, whether surfaces were disinfected, etc., Zhu Tao, an official with the CAAC said at a press conference on Monday.

The Beijing Capital International Airport has designated Section D of Terminal 3 for all international flights as well as flights from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. All passengers disembarking from these flights are required to undergo health checks, including body temperature screening at checkpoints. All inbound flights at Beijing Daxing International Airport have been transferred to Beijing Capital International Airport.

Across checkpoints, passengers are subject to temperature screening and epidemiological investigation, and everyone must fill out a health declaration form. Those with fever or other suspected symptoms will be immediately sent to designated hospitals.

Beijing has converted the New China International Exhibition Center into a transit center for international inbound passengers. Divided into different zones according to passenger origin, the center is used for people who after undergoing health checks at the airport so no sign of a fever, a cough and other symptoms. 

Earlier, the Beijing municipal government had announced that travelers coming to the city from outside the Chinese mainland have to be quarantined for 14 days at designated places.

After rigorous evaluation, some people coming to Beijing from overseas will be allowed to stay at home for medical observation amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Those who are not suited for designated quarantine, people aged over 70, minors, pregnant women and patients with underlying diseases, as well as those who have a residence in the city and live by themselves, could apply for home observation.

Applications would be approved after community workers and health professionals check and verify the eligibility of the applicants.

Check out the following graphic for more about the transit and quarantine process.