A plane carrying Chinese medical experts is seen at the airport in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 11, 2020. A team of 10 Chinese medical experts departed from Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, for Russia Saturday morning to help with its fight against the COVID-19. Photo:Xinhua

Harbin, capital city Northeast China's Heilongjiang, is stepping up efforts to curb COVID-19 amid rising imported cases, requiring at least two nucleic acid tests, one serum antibody test and mandatory 28-day quarantine for all international arrivals.

All arrivals from overseas and from major virus hard-hit areas will be taken into 14-day quarantine at designated locations and another 14-day medical observation at home. They will also take two nucleic acid tests and one serum antibody test in order to make sure no one is missed from screening, according to the local government.

Harbin government also called for strict inspections of border areas while enhancing information-sharing mechanisms between border, customs, aviation, and railway transport authorities to accurately identify arrivals from overseas, according to a statement issued on Sunday.

Meanwhile, for all residential areas where confirmed and asymptomatic patients live, buildings will be put under sealed-off management for 14 days, and local community workers will help allocate daily necessities for local residents. All residents will also have to strictly follow exit and entry rules, taking nucleic acid tests twice and a serum antibody test once, the official statement said.

All pharmacies in the city will continue to implement the information registration system for anyone who comes to buy antipyretics, cough suppressants, and antiviral drugs. Anyone who reports information about individuals coming to the city who fail to register their information will be rewarded 2,000 yuan ($284.30).

Heilongjiang reported 21 new imported cases on Saturday, all of whom were Chinese nationals returning from Russia. The province also reported five new asymptomatic patients on Saturday, also from Russia.

Local health authorities also reported two new domestic transmissions on Saturday, according to media reports.

A local confirmed patient surnamed Guo and an asymptomatic patient surnamed Wang did not cooperate with epidemiological investigations, which greatly increased difficulties in tracking down the origin of the contagion. Local police in Harbin are further investigating the matter.