(Yicai Global) April 13 -- China’s new Covid-19 cases were mostly discovered during the two-week isolation period after the people entered the country, accounting for 70 percent of the total imported cases, National Health Commission officials told a press conference today.

In addition to those confirmed to have the new coronavirus, suspected cases and those with fever symptoms are sent to designated medical institutions. All other overseas arrivals have to undergo a 14-day quarantine at their point of entry.

During the centralized medical observation period, people can voluntarily apply for lab tests at their own expense. On the third and fifth days they can apply for two nucleic acid tests and an IgM antibody test for serum specificity on the fifth day. If all three tests come back negative, they can opt to go home for another week of quarantine after the first seven days of intensive isolation.

China reported 108 newly confirmed cases yesterday, of which 98 came from outside the country and 10 were local -- seven in Heilongjiang province and three in Guangdong province, the NHC said on its website. The number of severe cases fell below 100 for the first time, it added.

Editor: Peter Thomas