BEIJING — China has taken targeted measures to curb the mounting risk posed by imported cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said on March 23.

"Preventing imported cases is a top priority of our current work," said a GAC official Song Yueqian at a press conference in Beijing.

Tracking the COVID-19 developments both at home and abroad, the customs made sure to define key countries and regions that require prevention and control at ports and to issue warning notices in a timely manner, said Song.

To guide national ports in preventing imported COVID-19 cases, China has revised and released the 6th edition of technical solutions for prevention and control at ports and the 2nd edition of instructions.

National ports have also adopted an updated health declaration form to facilitate the accurate collection of information, according to Song.

The GAC has taken stricter quarantine measures for international arrivals, said Song, including vehicle disinfection and a series of quarantines at ports for individuals entering the country.

Chinese mainland reported 39 newly imported COVID-19 cases on March 22, bringing the total number of imported cases to 353.