China urges overseas Chinese to stay away as imported virus cases rise

Chinese authorities on March 3 asked overseas Chinese to reconsider or minimise their travel plans as the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the world and prompts an uptick of imported cases arriving in the country.   

Travellers from countries with severe coronavirus outbreaks who arrive in Guangdong province, an economic and export powerhouse in the south, must undergo a 14-day quarantine - state media reported on March 3.   

The financial hub of Shanghai will also require all people, regardless of nationality, to remain in quarantine for 14 days if they have travelled to the city from a country with "relatively serious virus conditions", an official said.     

Dandong, the northern Chinese city which borders North Korea, said it would test all visitors who arrived in the city from Feb. 12. Those who arrived from Feb. 28 will be tested at designated hotels where they can undergo quarantine if infected.   

"We are trying to distance ourselves from the virus, but what cannot be broken is the flesh and blood relationships between overseas Chinese and their families in their hometowns," said the government of Qingtian county in the southeastern Zhejiang province.   

It added that travelling was the easiest way for cross-infections to happen, describing staying home as the "best form of protection".   

"For the sake of your family's health and safety, please strengthen your precautions, carefully decide on your travel plans and minimise mobility," it said.    

The number of new daily infections overseas now exceeded new cases in China, with Italy, South Korea and Iran focal points.    

Mainland China had 125 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on March 2, the National Health Commission said on March 3...