A customs officer checks passengers' health information at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. [Photo by Yin Liqin/China News Services]

Shanghai has assigned additional medical staff to support the screening procedures at customs checkpoints in light of the number of imported COVID-19 cases, said city officials on March 20.

There were eight new imported cases of COVID-19 on March 19, said Zheng Jin, a spokesperson from the Shanghai Health Commission, at the daily news conference.

The eight travelers are currently undergoing quarantine while another 23 suspected of being infected are under medical investigation.

There has not been a local infection case in Shanghai in the past 18 days, Zheng added.

Xu Wei, a spokesperson from the municipal government, reiterated that travelers entering the city from foreign countries are required to undergo temperature checks, epidemiology investigation and health registration. In addition, travelers from 24 countries affected by the COVID-19 must undergo a 14-day quarantine.

The mandatory quarantine also applies to those who have transited in these countries or have come into contact with those suspected to be infected, Xu added.