Beijing reported four new imported cases of novel coronavirus infections on Thursday, all of which were traced to Italy.

Cai Qi, Party secretary of Beijing, visited Beijing Capital International Airport to check epidemic prevention measures for inbound passengers. He said preventing importation of the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, was now the top priority.

All of the infected patients have been hospitalized in designated hospitals in Beijing.

Lanzhou, Gansu province, reported 11 imported cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. The city quarantined the 311 passengers who had taken chartered flights from Iran from Monday to Thursday. Some 300 people who had close contacts with those now confirmed have also been quarantined for observation.

As of Thursday, 36 imported cases of COVID-19 had been reported in China, the National Health Commission said.