Investigation launched into 'crude' entries of quarantined households

A comprehensive investigation has begun into a "simple and crude" practice of unlocking homes during a COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control action in Liwan district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, according to a local government brief on Monday.

The local health authority in Liwan classified two blocks of buildings at the Hailong subdistrict as high-risk on July 8, after COVID-19 positive cases were found among residents in the Banghua Star apartments.

Repeated screening and comparison found there were still close contacts to the positive cases hiding at home, some of whom tested positive for the novel coronavirus later that night.

To prevent emergence of new cases, a total of 84 households in key floors of the buildings were forcibly unlocked and had their doors sealed in the early morning of July 10 by a joint team from the subdistrict office, the local neighborhood committee and the property management operator.

After complete enclosure, the buildings later had new door locks installed for the households in succession, according to the briefing.

Citing the practice as "simple and crude", the brief said it ignored and hurt greatly the feelings of local residents. Workers in charge of the Hailong subdistricts apologized to residents by admitting mistakes and promising compensation.

The Liwan district government had established a working team to conduct an comprehensive and in-depth investigation, saying relevant personnel would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law and disciplines.