Chinese officials ‘detect coronavirus in a family’s fridge’ after couple who share a flat with fruit vendors tested positive for COVID-19
- The city of Chengdu reported two local COVID-19 cases, who are a couple, today
- The patients share their flat with two sellers who frequented a wholesale market
- The trading hub was shut down as part of emergency response to the infections
- Officials are testing thousands of close contacts in the metropolis of 16million
China has claimed to find coronavirus inside a family’s fridge after an elderly couple tested positive for the disease today.
The new local COVID-19 transmissions were recorded by authorities on Monday in Chengdu, a metropolis of 16million in south-western China’s Sichuan Province.
The patients were said to share a flat with another couple who frequented a wholesale market which has been shut down following the new cases.
The new local COVID-19 transmissions were recorded by local authorities on Monday in Chengdu, a metropolis of 16million in south-western China’s Sichuan Province
On Monday noon, the south-western Chinese city Chengdu reported its first local infection since March – a 69-year-old woman known by her surname Lu (not pictured). The file photo shows residents in Chengdu wearing face masks as they listen to a performer on November 28
China appeared to have largely controlled the virus in recent months while recording mostly imported cases from inbound travellers.
But since November, it has seen a spike of cases in the cities of Tianjin, Shanghai and Manzhouli, forcing authorities to test millions of people, impose lockdowns and shut down schools.
On Monday noon, the south-western Chinese city Chengdu reported its first local infection since March – a 69-year-old woman known by her surname Lu.
The pensioner went to the hospital on Sunday after suffering chesty coughs and tested positive for the virus today, according to an official notice.
Ms Lu and her husband, Mr Zhao, shared their flat with another couple and their child, reported local media.
Police officers stand guard as masked airport workers wait for COVID-19 testings at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on November 23 following new cases
As of December 7, China has recorded a total of 86,636 confirmed locally-transmitted coronavirus infections and 4,634 deaths.Picture shows residents receiving coronavirus tests at a makeshift testing centre in Tianjin on November 21 after five cases were reported
The tenants both worked as fruit vendors who regularly visited a local market, the Chengdu Shaxi Wholesale Market, to purchase produce.
Since 2pm today, the trading hub has been put under lockdown while eight makeshift testing points have been set up at the market’s four entrances.
All the vendors and customers are forbidden from leaving until they have received coronavirus testing and registered their information with the officials. They are also ordered to self-isolate while waiting for their test results.
Key areas, including the hospital Ms Lu visited, the wholesale market and the family’s neighbourhood, are being disinfected while local residents and close contacts are being tested for the virus.
In the afternoon, Mr Zhao was reported as the city’s second new case after testing positive. It remains unclear if his tenants have been infected with the virus.
Speaking to reporters today, the authorities claimed they had detected the contagion in the family’s fridge while collecting samples from their flat.
‘The patients’ fridge, door handles, light switches, some food in the fridge and chopping boards have all tested positive [for coronavirus],’ said Zhu Xiaoping, an official leading the anti-virus efforts in Sichuan Province.
‘It means that the virus has severely contaminated the patients’ home,’ he added.
The officials said they are now tracking down people who had close contacts with Mr Zhao, a rickshaw driver.
As of Monday, China has recorded a total of 86,636 confirmed coronavirus infections and 4,634 deaths.