Seafood sales area of Beijing Xinfadi Market, which closed after the outbreak of COVID-19 [Image source = Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Live novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected on the packaging of frozen food imported from China. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) stated that this is the world's first detection of live virus and urged special caution as touching contaminated frozen food packaging can lead to infection.
On the 17th (local time), the CCDC announced that live coronavirus was first found on the packaging of frozen cod.
The CCDC said, "While tracing the cause of the COVID-19 outbreak in Qingdao, China, live coronavirus was detected on frozen cod packaging," adding, "Although coronavirus has been detected on frozen shrimp packaging imported from Ecuador in South America and on frozen hairtail packaging from Indonesia, this is the world's first detection of 'live virus.'"
The virus detected this time came from imported cod packaging transported by two workers who were asymptomatically infected while working at a pier last month. They were found to have caused a cluster infection of 12 people at the hospital where they were admitted.
The CCDC stated, "The virus can survive for a relatively long time even under the special conditions of frozen product transportation, and this virus may cross long-distance borders through frozen goods."
Furthermore, they warned, "Coronavirus attached to the surface of goods can infect close contacts who do not take proper protective measures," emphasizing the need for special caution regarding frozen goods contaminated with coronavirus entering from overseas.
However, as of the 15th, about 3 million frozen food items were inspected in 24 provinces across China, but the virus was detected in only 22 cases on food or packaging, and among them, only one case involved live virus. They stated that the risk of general consumers being infected through food is significantly low.
The CCDC said, "COVID-19 is not transmitted through food consumption," and "In China, relevant departments have already implemented monitoring and disinfection measures for imported frozen food, so the general public can safely purchase and consume imported fish."
Meanwhile, in Qingdao, a new confirmed case occurred after 56 days when an asymptomatic infected person was diagnosed as positive on the 11th. Subsequently, 6 cases were added on the 12th and 13th respectively, and 1 more case on the 14th. Qingdao conducted nucleic acid testing for all 11 million residents, and all tested negative.
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