New measures announced for arriving passengers

People arriving in Shanghai from regions hit hard by the coronavirus epidemic will be picked up at the city's two airports and taken to their homes for 14-day quarantine as the city starts the latest prevention measures.

With the recent rise of coronavirus cases outside China, all people arriving in Shanghai from regions hit hard by the coronavirus epidemic must undergo 14-day quarantine, Shanghai's civil affairs authorities announced on Saturday.

"Sixteen quarantine zones, based on 16 districts in Shanghai, have been set up at Pudong and Hongqiao international airports, and passengers will be taken to these spots upon arrival," Zeng Qun, deputy director of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, told a press conference on Saturday.

"Pickup vehicles will stop at airports, and passengers will be asked to keep a safe distance while seated," said Zeng. 

For those who have arranged private cars as transportation, the name, ID card and contact of the driver and accompanying persons, car plate number and destination must be registered in advance with district officials, who also need to accompany passengers to the pickup spot, verify their information and inform communities, he said.

When passengers arrive at residential complexes, staff from health service centers, neighborhood committees, police and foreign language translation volunteers will visit them and they shall sign a home quarantine promise letter, said Zeng.

"24-hour registration and pickup services have started at the two airports on Friday," said Zeng.