The WHO team underwent both throat swabs and serum antibody tests at the airport, and will remain in quarantine for two weeks before starting their work, according to state media CGTN.

This has been the third such visit since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in China. China had invited WHO experts twice, in February and July last year, to carry out cooperation on tracing potential sources in China, during which the two sides formulated the China part of a global scientific cooperation plan.

The first case of COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It has since spread worldwide, leading to an ongoing pandemic.

The pandemic has so far killed nearly 2 million people and infected tens of millions while devastating the global economy.