Beijing was waging a massive campaign to find Covid-19 on Sunday after the emergence of a new center of infection in the city, which is fueling fears of a resurgence of the epidemic in China.
Thanks to strict controls, the wearing of a generalized mask and containment measures, the new coronavirus seemed almost eradicated from Chinese soil, where it appeared at the end of 2019 in Wuhan (center). But the discovery of a home in a market in the capital, which is nevertheless the subject of very special surveillance, surprised the Pekingese.
Patients all linked to the Xinfadi wholesale market
China's Ministry of Health reported 57 new cases of Covid-19 nationwide in the past 24 hours on Sunday. Among them, 36 were registered in Beijing. All the sick are linked to the Xinfadi wholesale market, which sells meat, fish and vegetables in particular. It is the main source of supply for fresh produce in the city.
This discovery resulted in the containment of 11 surrounding residential areas. It is however a tiny part of Beijing, which lived almost normally on Sunday and was still far from any psychosis. Two other local cases were reported Sunday in China in Liaoning province (northeast). Finally, the remaining 19 infections are due to people returning from abroad.
24 screening points to test 46,000 people
The Beijing city hall said it wanted to test around 46,000 people (out of the 22 million inhabitants of the capital) thanks to the installation of 24 screening points across the city. Anyone working or having recently visited Xinfadi market should be screened. So far, 10,881 people have been, according to the authorities.
“I went to the market recently. So I want to be sure that I don't have the Covid-19, ”says Ms. Guo, 32, who is patient in front of an athletic stadium where free screening tests are organized. "If we're positive, we'll have to go to the hospital. And if it is negative, we will still have to make a quarantine of 14 days at home, "she explains to AFP.
In a very organized ballet, medical personnel in protective overalls greeted generally smiling and calm Beijingers, who lined up behind signs indicating their neighborhood of origin. "The authorities found my husband thanks to big data," says a woman in the queue, referring to the system for analyzing GPS locations or online payments.
"I have to keep working to make a living"
The huge Xinfadi market includes different sections spread over several hectares. The parts where meat and fish are sold were closed on Sunday, guarded by hundreds of police, guards or members of the military police. The vegetable market area, however, remained open and trucks came and went.
"Worried about me?" Not really, ”smiles Mr. Zhang, a delivery driver who came to pick up boxes of mushrooms for supermarkets and restaurants in Beijing. "Anyway, I have no choice. I am part of the lowest strata of society. So I have to keep working to make a living, ”he told AFP the mask lowered under the chin.
Suspected salmon?
Official media reported that the virus had been detected at Xinfadi market on boards used to cut up imported salmon.
In the process, the health authorities ordered an inspection campaign throughout the city, concerning meat, poultry and fish, in supermarkets, storage warehouses and catering services.
Friday, the mayor of Beijing had already postponed the return of students to primary schools and suspended all sporting events.
World
Coronavirus: Record number of new cases in China ... 29,398 deaths in France, including 24 new deaths ...
Society
Coronavirus in Toulouse: A new cluster identified after a festive meal, at least 16 positive cases
- China
- Covid 19
- Beijing
- Health
- World
- Coronavirus