Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TBIA) is prioritizing the prevention of imported cases of COVID-19 and will implement a series of measures to curb the epidemic. This is in response to Tianjin reporting its first imported case on March 20.

At a press conference the same day, Wang Haozhe, deputy general manager of TBIA, outlined the strict measures the airport will take to prevent imported cases of COVID-19.

The airport has adopted measures on entry and exit control, including requiring the submission of a declaration of health information, and measuring the temperatures of passengers.

Flights and passengers are being handled according to tailored and targeted measures. These include designated parking spots for different flights, separate transfer areas for passengers, and isolated sections for those with fever.

Quarantine is required upon arrival for those flights from countries or regions with a serious epidemic outbreak. This is to ensure “early detection, early reporting, early isolation, and early treatment.”

Special arrangements have been designed for the elderly, the infirm, the physically-challenged, the pregnant, unaccompanied minors and other special passengers.

TBIA has also clarified protection measures for employees, specifically all-round safety precautions for those providing services at close proximity. It has equipped staff with epidemic prevention and control information and carried out personal protection training.

Information sharing has been improved between departments to ensure that information is provided in a timely manner and to reduce the potential virus spread risk to a minimum.

The airport is working with the Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the epidemic prevention and control working groups in the city’s districts, to properly and safely handle passengers with fever and other symptoms.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, TBIA has been following the developments of the pandemic home and aboard, and in response has been continuously upgrading measures to prevent both imported cases and spread within the city.

Since Friday, the airport has also been handling diverted inbound flights scheduled to land at Beijing Capital International Airport and helping to check passengers' health conditions.

This comes after a notice, jointly issued on Sunday by multiple national agencies, that all international passengers arriving in Beijing must first fly to one of 12 airports for health screening and quarantine.

“TBIA will do its utmost to carry out guarantee procedures in accordance with the notice,” Wang said. “It has developed a special guarantee plan for those flights, including checking the existing parking spots, ground facilities and equipment, confirming takeoff and landing plans and developing targeted procedures based on the type of the aircraft.

“The procedures will be readjusted and improved appropriately according to the requirements of the state, the municipal government, and the airport customs and immigration authorities as well as changes in on-site conditions.”