Live SARS-CoV-2 detected on mainland Chinese frozen food packaging for the first time

News (1)

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) announced on 17 October 2020 that when tracking the recent outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 (covi, CCP virus, novel coronavirus) in Qingdao, live CCP virus was isolated from the positive samples of imported frozen cod outer packaging. This is the first time in the world that covi has been isolated from the outer packaging of frozen food. The live CCP virus has been confirmed to cause infection. This finding reminds all localities that in addition to preventing imported cases of covi infection by foreign travellers, they should also pay attention to the risk of imported virus on contaminated frozen goods.

The CDC stated that this is the first time outside the laboratory that it has been confirmed that the CCP virus can survive on the outer packaging of goods for a long time under special conditions of frozen transportation, showing that covi on frozen goods can survive on long-distance cross-border import. The CCP virus living on the surface of the item may cause infection to contacts who are not effectively protected.

A new wave of novel coronavirus outbreak occurred in Qingdao, Shandong after the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Golden Week. From Sunday to Wednesday (11th to 14th), 13 new cases were added. The authorities said the source of the epidemic is two workers who had unloaded frozen seafood in Qingdao Port.  As of 15 September, the mainland has tested 670,000 frozen food and packaging samples for covi, of which 22 samples tested positive for the novel coronavirus nucleic acid, with a low viral nucleic acid load, but no live virus has been isolated before.

Sources : China CDC / NTDTV / Ming Pao

Ref : http://www.chinacdc.cn/yw_9324/202010/t20201017_222144.html

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News (2)  Updated 18/10/20

For the first time in China, live coronavirus was detected in the packaging of frozen products

Publisher : Montsame News Agency / https://www.montsame.mn/mn/read/239878 / Direct translation

For the first time in China, live coronavirus has been detected in the packaging of frozen products. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday that a live virus had been detected during an investigation into the cause of an outbreak of coronavirus in Qingdao.

It is possible to get infected by touching the packaging of frozen products. "This is the first time live coronavirus has been detected on the surface of frozen food packaging, and contact with the packaging surface may result in coronavirus infection," the statement said.

The novel coronavirus was found in a package of frozen barley imported from Russia to China in late September. Everyone who came in contact with the package was taken for medical observation. They also tested positive for the virus.