Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

SHENZHEN is now a low-risk city for COVID-19 infections, after Futian, which was previously rated the only medium-risk district for the disease in Shenzhen, was recategorized to low-risk, according to the city’s COVID-19 control and prevention commanding office yesterday.

As a result, all public places across the city will reopen and have inspection spots at their entrances withdrawn. The entry of deliverymen into residential estates will be allowed as long as they are healthy.

Shenzhen reported three new imported COVID-19 cases Saturday, bringing the total imported cases to 22, the city’s health commission said yesterday.

In the first case, a 23-year-old Chinese woman took a flight from the United Kingdom to Singapore last Monday and then flew to Hong Kong on Wednesday. She was sent to quarantine for medical observation after entering Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint the same day. She showed symptoms Thursday and was confirmed infected Saturday. No one on the Chinese mainland had close contact with her.

The second case involved a 25-year-old Chinese woman who took a flight to Guangzhou from Bangkok in Thailand on Thursday. She was transported to Shenzhen for quarantine Friday and confirmed infected Saturday. Four people who had close contact with the patient have been put under centralized isolation.

The third patient was a 19-year-old man who returned from Spain to Hong Kong on March 10. He tested positive for the virus after arriving at Shenzhen on Saturday.

Among the 22 cases, 10 were imported from the U.K., three from France, three from the Philippines and two from Spain, the health commission said.

To control imported COVID-19 cases, Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, the Shenzhen airport and Shenzhen North Railway Station have implemented differentiated measures and quarantine procedures.

Starting from Saturday, all inbound passengers with a travel history to foreign countries in the past 14 days must take a free nucleic acid test upon arrival and go through a 14-day mandatory, self-paid centralized quarantine or stay-at-home isolation, He Qun, deputy director with the Shenzhen Port Office, said.

For those headed for other cities in Guangdong and other provinces by transiting through Shenzhen, the city will contact the authorities of their destination to pick them up in Shenzhen or transport them to transport terminals to leave Shenzhen after they test negative on a nucleic acid test for the virus.