A researcher does a nucleic acid test at the KingMed Diagnostics, a company commissioned to do coronavirus infection test in Wuhan, on March 2, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING -- The Beijing municipal government has required strengthened nucleic acid testing (NAT) of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for people arriving in the city from other countries.

Those with certain symptoms such as fever and cough, travel histories to countries with serious coronavirus outbreaks, or some other conditions worthy of note must undergo the NAT, according to the city's anti-virus office.

A closed-loop management of inbound passengers is stressed as well, with priorities given to the elderly, pregnant, children and disabled, the office said.

The 14-day concentrated observation should also be carried out strictly, the office added.

Beijing reported 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 imported from other countries on Saturday, bringing the total number of imported cases in the capital to 97.