Chinese Government ramps up inspections of cold-chain goods after several new cases of coronavirus infections at Xinfadi market, Beijing.
The market where coronavirus was detected on chopping board that was used for prepping imported salmon in June, has had all its frozen and aquatic products removed from the market’s refrigerated warehouses, reports state-backed Beijing News. This was also reported in Reuters.
Back in the early summer, Chinese authorities determined that an outbreak of cases in Beijing had been traced back to Xinfadi, where traces of the coronavirus were discovered on imported salmon, halting sales of the fish ever since.
The recent news did not specifically mention salmon, but Reuters added that the outbreak may be linked to containers from Tajikistan. The move follows reports of COVID-19 infections related to imported frozen products in multiple Chinese provinces and municipalities in recent months.
As big as 157 football fields, Xinfadi can trade up to 1,500 tonnes of seafood a day.
Experts including WHO, Deputy Director Emergency Centre, Chinese Centre for Disease and Control Shi Quoqing and Norwegian authorities have repeatedly rubbished claims over the idea that the virus can hitch a ride on fresh fish.
But there are none peer-reviewed studies that claim that coronavirus can survive on frozen salmon for up to three weeks. The study’s conclusion has not been confirmed.
