(Yicai Global) March 11 -- Beijing is ramping up measures to prevent the novel coronavirus from entering China's capital city from abroad.

To curb imported Covid-19 cases, even people arriving in Beijing from countries not severely impacted by the virus will have to undergo strict monitoring at home or at designated sites for 14 days, city officials told a press conference today.

As the domestic rate of transmission falls drastically in China, the threat posed by re-infection from carriers coming in from other countries and regions has increased along with the rapid spread of the contagion around the world.

In response to this new challenge, Beijing has set up special sectors in Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport exclusively for flights from places outside China with severe outbreaks. After completing hygiene inspection, temperature checks and information registration, passengers will be transported out by staff.

For the remaining arrivals, Beijing has established special distribution points at the new China International Exhibition Center in Shunyi district, with teams from other districts and various provinces working together on 24-hour transportation.

Beijing's districts will arrange for staff and vehicles to take passengers with fixed residences to their communities for home-based observation for 14 days. Those with no fixed residence will be sent to designated sites for observation.

People travelling to Beijing for short-term business purposes will be put up at designated hotels and will have to complete nucleic acid tests. They will not be allowed to leave before the results are known.

Relevant provinces and cities will take charge of the security and transport of passengers whose destination is outside of Beijing.

Editor: Peter Thomas