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Mainland parcel delivered to HK shopper tests positive for Covid-19
A Hong Kong customer who shopped during the Single's Day sale last Thursday ended up receiving a parcel containing not only clothing, but the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The parcel arrived in Hong Kong from Inner Mongolia on Saturday, before samples taken from the package by mainland authorities tested positive.
The recipient of the parcel and deliverymen who might have had contact with the parcel were required to go for a Covid-19 test, the Centre for Health Protection said on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong center said it received a notification from the Health Commission of Guangdong Province on Tuesday night and has followed up on the case.
“It is preliminarily confirmed that the parcel was sent from Inner Mongolia on November 7 and arrived at the address of the recipient in Hong Kong on November 13,” the center said.
But it did not specify which delivery company was responsible for the parcel.
“The recipient has disposed of the external package immediately upon receipt of the parcel and has washed the clothes contained in the parcel,” the center said.
The recipient was required to undergo a Covid-19 test and disinfect the household surfaces which the parcel had contact with, it said.
The center also revealed that the parcel had stayed at a local logistics warehouse, and all environment samples collected at the warehouse tested negative.
It has also asked all warehouse staff who might have contact with the parcel to get tested and advised the warehouse operator to pay attention to the environmental disinfection routines.
“In general, the Covid-19 virus cannot survive over a few days under a non-chilled environment, therefore the possibility of the concerned package carrying a transmissible live virus after arriving in Hong Kong is relatively low,” the center said.
But it reminded the public to wash and disinfect their hands after touching purchased goods, especially for items that are imported to Hong Kong.
November 11 is known for its Single's Day shopping bargains on the mainland. Beijing, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia have since reported parcels which tested positive for Covid-19.
A bag wrapping a wool sweater from Inner Mongolia was tested positive of Covid-19 in Beijing on November 15. It triggered a lockdown of the building where the recipient lived.
Parcels from a business company in Hebei Province were also earlier found to contain the virus, resulting in compulsory testings for staff and citizens who had contact with the items.
In Hunan province, there were also people being required to undergo testings and seven-day home quarantines after opening parcels containing the virus.
The recipient of the parcel and deliverymen who might have had contact with the parcel were required to go for a Covid-19 test, the Centre for Health Protection said on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong center said it received a notification from the Health Commission of Guangdong Province on Tuesday night and has followed up on the case.
“It is preliminarily confirmed that the parcel was sent from Inner Mongolia on November 7 and arrived at the address of the recipient in Hong Kong on November 13,” the center said.
But it did not specify which delivery company was responsible for the parcel.
“The recipient has disposed of the external package immediately upon receipt of the parcel and has washed the clothes contained in the parcel,” the center said.
The recipient was required to undergo a Covid-19 test and disinfect the household surfaces which the parcel had contact with, it said.
The center also revealed that the parcel had stayed at a local logistics warehouse, and all environment samples collected at the warehouse tested negative.
It has also asked all warehouse staff who might have contact with the parcel to get tested and advised the warehouse operator to pay attention to the environmental disinfection routines.
“In general, the Covid-19 virus cannot survive over a few days under a non-chilled environment, therefore the possibility of the concerned package carrying a transmissible live virus after arriving in Hong Kong is relatively low,” the center said.
But it reminded the public to wash and disinfect their hands after touching purchased goods, especially for items that are imported to Hong Kong.
November 11 is known for its Single's Day shopping bargains on the mainland. Beijing, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia have since reported parcels which tested positive for Covid-19.
A bag wrapping a wool sweater from Inner Mongolia was tested positive of Covid-19 in Beijing on November 15. It triggered a lockdown of the building where the recipient lived.
Parcels from a business company in Hebei Province were also earlier found to contain the virus, resulting in compulsory testings for staff and citizens who had contact with the items.
In Hunan province, there were also people being required to undergo testings and seven-day home quarantines after opening parcels containing the virus.
