Omicron Detected in Canadian Parcel...Suspected Source of Infection for Beijing Case
China National Post Office Pledges to Build 'Barrier' Against Overseas Mail
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese health authorities claimed that the Omicron virus confirmed in Beijing was found in mail (packages) from North America.
The China National Postal Administration announced that it will strengthen inspections of international packages and build a COVID-19 barrier. This is interpreted as an intention to block the inflow of international mail coming from specific regions such as North America.
The state-run Global Times, citing the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported on the 18th that the Omicron case confirmed in Beijing on the 15th had received international mail from Toronto, Canada on the 7th. It added that 12 Omicron viruses were detected on both the external and internal packaging of this mail. The mail reportedly arrived in Beijing via the United States and Hong Kong.
Fang Xinghua, Deputy Director of the CDC, said, "The DNA of the Omicron virus from Beijing's first infected person is similar to the DNA confirmed in the United States and Singapore," adding, "The possibility of infection through international packages cannot be ruled out." He also urged people to refrain from purchasing overseas products online (direct overseas purchase) considering the widespread COVID-19 overseas.
Yang Zhanqiu, a professor at Wuhan University Virus Research Institute, explained, "The virus can survive for several days at room temperature, one month at minus 30 degrees Celsius, and several years at minus 80 degrees Celsius," adding, "International packages contaminated with the virus are highly likely to cause domestic outbreaks."
Chinese health authorities also suspect that the Omicron infection in Shenzhen was caused by overseas packages. The authorities are currently tracing the source of the virus infection and pointed out that the confirmed patient opened frozen reagents from North America without personal protective equipment.
In response to these announcements by Chinese health authorities, the China National Postal Administration stated that it will build barriers ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday and the Winter Olympics and strictly prevent COVID-19 infections caused by international mail.
Chinese health authorities have often warned about COVID-19 viruses being detected in imported products such as frozen salmon and have advised caution when purchasing imported goods. However, no country other than China has announced that COVID-19 viruses were detected in overseas mail or frozen imported products.
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