A new outbreak of COVID-19 in Beijing, and a false alarm in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung are renewing fears of a 2nd wave.
Fifteen students in Kaohsiung had reported respiratory symptoms, but they have since tested negative. But Beijing has confirmed 79 new cases of COVID-19 in just five days, all stemming from a cluster infection at the city’s biggest market.
As the world gets ready to ease lockdown restrictions, a new outbreak in Beijing has people thinking twice about leaving the safety of home. Beijing went 56-days without a new case of COVID-19 before this latest outbreak… the source of which can be traced back to the city’s Xinfadi Market.
Officials found traces of COVID-19 on cutting boards used to process salmon.
Infectious disease pediatrician Huang Li-min says it’s possible that someone infected with COVID-19 entered the market and contaminated the salmon. He says the refrigerated conditions of the market are conducive to COVID-19’s survival and spread. In such an environment the coronavirus can survive at least 5-7 days.
Huang says the high foot-traffic at the market makes it a prime location for an outbreak. He says people should be extra careful, since salmon is not the only thing susceptible to harboring the virus. He says the virus can be found on any kind of fresh food.
Beijing has since shut down the market and surrounding areas. Employees and nearby residents are getting tested as officials continue to track down the source of the outbreak.