"Because of Korean Frozen Food"... China Blames Korea Again for Chain Infections

Tianjin City "COVID-19 Detected in Sample of Imported Frozen Korean Food"
Previously, Korean Clothing and Frozen Seafood Identified as Infection Sources

Medical staff are collecting specimens from residents at a COVID-19 testing site in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, on the 1st. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Kim Gun-chan, Intern Reporter] The Tianjin municipal authorities in China have publicly pointed to Korean frozen food as the origin of the recent COVID-19 chain infection.

According to Yang Guang Network, the online version of China National Radio on the 2nd, Han Jin-yeon, director of the Tianjin Disease Control Center, said at a press conference on the epidemic prevention situation the day before, "Since the 27th of last month, about 200 cumulative infections have occurred in Xiqing District, and the source of the chain infection is highly likely to be imported goods from Korea."

Director Han claimed as evidence, "The genetic sequence of the initial infected person (in this infection route) differs the least from the genetic sequence recently shared from Korea."

He added, "Recently, Korean imported goods, especially frozen food imported from Korea, found in the homes of initial infected persons tested positive."

Previously, Chinese authorities have repeatedly blamed South Korea for the spread of COVID-19 within China. In March and April, some regions in China pointed to Korean imported clothing as the source of infection. Around the same time, positive COVID-19 reactions were detected on packaging of Korean frozen seafood, leading to suspension of imports of related companies' products.

China continues to assert theories of overseas origins of COVID-19, mentioning transmission through mail and frozen food. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) consider the possibility of infection through surface contact with mail or cargo to be low.