What to expect when arriving in the city
A police officer at Pudong International Airport talks to two passengers arriving in Shanghai from a country on the city's “key areas list."
Two police officers from Jing’an District work at the arrival hall of Pudong International Airport where they register passengers and arrange their transport.
From Friday, people have lived or traveled in 24 countries within two weeks of their arrival in Shanghai must undergo 14-day quarantine at home or at designated places. So how does this work?
When a plane arrives at Pudong or Hongqiao international airport, customs officials board to check passengers’ temperatures. Those found to have a fever are taken away by ambulance, while those seated close to them are taken to a designated place for quarantine.
The remaining passengers are then led to terminal buildings in groups to be questioned about their residence and travel history and whether they have been in contact with people infected with the COVID-19 virus.
Those who haven’t been to any of the 24 countries will be let go, while those who have will have to register at the arrival hall with police from the district where they are going to stay.
Those with a residence in Shanghai will be taken by bus to a place for COVID-19 virus test before they are driven to their homes or designated places. In the case of a positive test, they are taken to the hospital.
Anyone without a Shanghai residence is quarantined at the airport.
Passengers transferring to another flight or to trains will be handed over to the airline handling their next flight or transported to train stations after health checks.
Dong Haijun, vice head of the police at the Pudong airport, said: “The purpose of the measures is to ensure that all passengers from key areas are properly screened and safely transported to their destinations in Shanghai.”
The 24 countries on the city’s key areas list so far are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States.
Guarding Shanghai
Since the beginning of March, over 400 planes from key areas have landed in the city, police said.
Over 1,000 officers from all districts are working at both airports.
One of them is Li Yong, with the Xintiandi police station in Huangpu District, who registers the information of passengers who have lived or traveled in any of the 24 countries and arranges their transportation.
Passengers need to scan a QR code to fill in their information, including their contact numbers, the last place they stayed in and their address in Shanghai if they have one. They also have to sign a pledge to obey home quarantine rules.
Li said an increasing number of overseas Chinese students were returning to Shanghai, but half of the arrivals were still foreigners.
“Most of the foreigners are those who work in Shanghai and those who come to live with their relatives who work here,” he said.
Li said officers have no problem in communicating with foreigners, most of whom can speak English, and if someone lacks English or Chinese skills, the police have a backup via the Internet or phone.
Li and his colleagues work in two shifts 24/7. They are replaced by another group of officers after 14 days and sent to home quarantine. During their work at the airport, they live at a nearby hotel.
“Most of the people arriving understand the measures taken in Shanghai and consider it beneficial to the health of all,” Li said.
