A sanitation worker sprays disinfectant in a public area in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: cnsphoto

Facing the pressure of a growing number of imported coronavirus cases swarming into the capital Beijing, China is taking a range of measures to defend the result it seized in the fight against the coronavirus, after basically containing the epidemic across the country. 

Given the fact that there are at least 111 imported cases nationwide, as well as practical problems such as lax home-isolation enforcement and concealing of health conditions, China's five top authorities announced on Monday that obstructing border health checkups, including concealing one's health status by providing the wrong information when filling in a health form, and forging health and checkup forms and certificates, will be punished and lead to conviction.

Also from Monday, all arrivals in Beijing from overseas will be sent to designated places to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine, whether they have related symptoms or not.

Before that, at least 15 Chinese people who returned from overseas while concealing the fact they were carrying the virus were filed and investigated, including a woman who had come back from Thailand and visited several public places in five separate districts in the city, leading to a public outcry. 

Analysts believe that the policies being made along with changes in the situation and broad public opinion are bricks for constructing the final 'Great Wall' that will ensure the safety of the Chinese people.

The governments of Beijing and many other cities announced recently that those who are not covered by China's national medical insurance will not enjoy free testing and treatment if confirmed to be infected when entering China. In addition, free treatment will be waived if Chinese conceal their travel history and other health-related information. 

"If they can get a flight ticket at this time, they can no doubt afford the treatment fees," commented a netizen on a woman who concealed her infection and flew back to China from Los Angeles for treatment, noting the importance of law enforcement against those whose "selfish and irresponsible acts" might destroy the country's previous success.

Analysts believe that considering the dicey situation and panic of overseas Chinese due to many countries being unable to test and treat huge numbers of people like China was able to, more measures should be promptly taken.

As of Monday, the total numbers of coronavirus cases overseas reached 86,430, more than the total number in China.

Zhi Zhenfeng, a legal expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday that acting in accordance with law with humanitarianism is essential. 

"I hope people behave honestly and tell the truth about their health, and they will get treated properly."

In addition, he called for more severe punishment for concealing the truth, such as huge fines according to an individual's salary. "Five times the annual income maybe," he said. 

He noted that some countries are actually encouraging overseas Chinese to go back to lighten their loads and pass the buck, which is highly immoral as the risk of infection during the journey is greater than staying at home when people are healthy. As a result, Zhi is calling for more cross-country communication and cooperation. 

Zhi said it is necessary to build makeshift hospitals and designated quarantine space in advance just in case more overseas Chinese will return.