Shanghai requires health information from all travelers to curb virus

All people arriving in Shanghai through highways, railways, airports and docks need to fill out a mandatory personal health form starting Sunday — the latest measure by the municipality to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus as the travel peak of people returning to the city from holiday is around the corner.

Travelers are encouraged to download the phone app jiankangyun, or Health Cloud, and fill out the form ahead of their arrival in Shanghai to ensure smooth traffic flow after an extended Spring Festival holiday, the municipal government said on Sunday.

The questions in the form include whether their departure is from Hubei province, and epidemic center Wuhan in particular, their date of departure, method of transportation and the number of the flight, train or vehicle license.

Those who don't fill out the form online will be required to fill out a paper form at the terminal.

Zheng Jin, a spokeswoman with the city's health commission, said information of those who give certain answers to questions will be forwarded to the health management teams of respective local communities to continue with follow-up health observations.

Yang Xiaoxi, deputy director of the Shanghai Transportation Commission, said the peak traffic flow for the two airports in Shanghai may start during workdays next week, and for railway stations, it may appear for the following two weekends.

Infrared thermometers will be equipped at the two airports and three railway stations in Shanghai to detect temperatures of all arriving and departing passengers, and there will be police and medical staff taking temperatures and collecting health information of travelers arriving on the highway.

"Anyone running a fever will be sent to designated hospitals for medical quarantine and observation and treatment if necessary, according to our plans," Zheng said.

Temperature checks will also be enforced at nine metro stations in the municipality that link to airports and railways. Such checks will be extended to all stations later, said Shao Weizhong, vice-president of Shanghai Shentong Group, the city's metro operator.

"We also require all passengers to wear masks before entering metro station areas," he said.

The city's health commission announced that by 12 pm Sunday there have been 182 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the city, ranging from ages 7 to 88. Altogether 110 had lived or recently traveled to Hubei province, and 64 had close contact with previously confirmed patients.