Border cities aim to block infections from Russia
Customs officials show a motorist how to fill in his health declaration after he crossed the China-Russia border on April 6 at Manzhouli, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo by Luan Tao for China Daily]
Manzhouli, a city on China's border with Russia, has enhanced its medical capabilities and epidemic control measures to cope with COVID-19 cases imported from Russia over the past few days.
The city, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is China's largest border crossing. It reported 71 imported cases since its first about a week ago up to Monday morning, according to the local health commission.
A local hospital, the former Jalainuur Coal Corporation General Hospital, has been renovated to receive COVID-19 patients.
The 340-bed hospital is due to open on Tuesday, and more beds will be added in the following days.
Zhao Yunpeng, head of the city's health commission, said Manzhouli has arranged three designated hospitals with a total of 600 beds for COVID-19 patients, suspected cases and people with fever.
For screening, all arriving passengers from foreign countries will go through health checks and be quarantined.