Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 13 members of the WHO International Expert Group have successfully arrived in China and been isolated

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 15 (reporter Wen You, Wang Bin) Zhao Lijian, a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the 15th that, after consultations between the two sides, China agreed that an international expert group of the World Health Organization would come to China on the 14th to conduct joint scientific research cooperation with Chinese scientists on the traceability of COVID-19. At noon on the 14th, 13 members of the international expert group had successfully arrived in Wuhan and stayed in the isolation hotel.

At the regular press conference on the same day, a reporter asked: It is reported that two people in the WHO international expert group failed to board because of positive antibody test, but their nucleic acid test did not show positive. Can you clarify China's policy on the entry of foreigners? Is it only based on the nucleic acid test results, or is it impossible to enter the country if the antibody test is positive? What is China's comment on this?

Zhao Lijian said that China's remote detection regulations are based on the current international epidemic situation, with reference to multinational practices, in order to ensure the orderly flow of Chinese and foreign personnel on the premise of ensuring epidemic prevention safety. This is not only to maintain China's hard won achievements in epidemic prevention and control, but also to minimize the risk of cross infection of people coming to China on their way, and to maintain everyone's health and safety. In November of last year, China publicly released the Notice on Boarding Passengers to China with Double Negative Certificates of Neocoronavirus Nucleic Acid Test and Serum Antibody Test. China will strictly abide by relevant epidemic prevention regulations and requirements, and provide corresponding support and convenience for WHO experts to carry out traceability international cooperation in China.

Zhao Lijian said that of the 15 members of the WHO expert group, 2 experts tested positive for IgM serum antibody during the transit test at Singapore Airport. According to the requirements of relevant epidemic prevention regulations, Chinese and foreign passengers who depart from Singapore and take a flight to China should complete the detection of NCV nucleic acid and serum within 2 days before boarding. They should use the negative certificate of nucleic acid detection and the negative certificate of serum specific IgM antibody detection, that is, double negative certificate, and apply for the green health code marked "HS" or health status statement.

"Out of support for the work of WHO, China agreed to conduct a second round of IgM antibody testing for relevant experts, and the results showed that one expert tested negative. We have agreed to come to China, and the other expert is still positive. We will continue to maintain communication with WHO on relevant matters, and make joint efforts for both sides to carry out traceability cooperation," said Zhao Lijian.