Frozen food positive for virus in Heilongjiang

Samples collected from some frozen food have tested positive for the coronavirus in a supermarket in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province, according to a statement from the city's epidemic prevention and control headquarters.

During a regular inspection at an RT-Mart in Xiangyang district, regulators found that the supermarket had not reported information on the products from a food company connected to a recent cluster of infections in Harbin.

The city's centers for disease control and prevention launched a comprehensive screening of frozen food at the supermarket on Sunday.

Samples of meat products from Heilongjiang Charoen Pokphand Co and cooked wheat products from Shandong Tanghe Food Co were positive for the coronavirus, the statement said. Some of the products were sold between Jan 11 and 31.

The headquarters arranged for the collection of samples from various people and the environment. So far, around 1,500 samples have been collected, with all coming back negative.

A comprehensive disinfection has been carried out in the supermarket, which has been asked to suspend its business until rectification is complete.

Heilongjiang province reported eight new locally transmitted confirmed cases and four asymptomatic carriers of the virus on Monday, the provincial health commission said on Tuesday. 

As of Monday, there were 522 confirmed cases and 529 asymptomatic carriers in the province. 

Neighboring Jilin province reported four new local confirmed cases and three asymptomatic carriers on Monday, the provincial health commission said. 

As of Monday in Jilin, there were 348 confirmed cases, including 34 people in serious condition, and 15 asymptomatic carriers.