Beijing’s largest seafood and produce market has been
shuttered and surrounding neighbourhoods placed into lockdown after more than
50 people tested positive for the coronavirus, renewing concern that China’s
grip on the pandemic is not yet secure.
The outbreak, which comes more than 50 days after the last
local case of Covid-19 was recorded in the city of 20 million, has infected at
least 53 people.
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According to the Beijing health commission, nearly everyone
who tested positive had worked or shopped at the Xinfadi market.
It comes as New York’s virus-related deaths hit a record low
– despite other US states reporting surges in cases and outbreaks in Brazil and
India hit landmark new levels.
In Chile, Health Minister Jaime Mañalich has resigned amid
criticism over the nation’s “erratic” coronavirus strategy.
Back in China, residents at 11 estates in south Beijing’s
Fengtai district have been ordered to stay at home, following the emergence of
a coronavirus outbreak at the capital’s largest seafood and produce market.
The Xinfadi market has been closed by authorities as they
race to contain the cluster, which emerged more than 50 days after the last
local case of Covid-19 was recorded in the city of 20 million, fuelling fears
of a resurgence in local transmission – and concern China’s grip on the pandemic
is not yet secure.
At least 53 people have been linked to the market, which
provides much of the capital’s food supply, the Beijing health commission said.
Nearly everyone who tested positive had worked or shopped at
the market, which employs upwards of 10,000 people. The virus was reportedly
detected on cutting boards for imported salmon there.
Officials in Fengtai, home to more than two million people,
announced on Saturday the district had established a “wartime
mechanism” to deal with the fresh wave.
nzherald.co.nz
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