Wow cool – According to a report by the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (BCDC), the first Omicron patient did not leave the city for 14 days before being detected. But sometimes handles international mail at work.
The agency pointed out that the Omicron strain was found in letters sent from Canada on January 7 and received on January 11 in Beijing. Samples were taken from the exterior and interior surfaces of the packaging, as well as from the documents inside.
In addition, the genetic sequence of the virus in the patient was different from that of other cases of Omicron infection in China. Instead, it closely resembles strains found in North America and Singapore in December 2021.
“In summary, combined with the epidemiological history of the case, the results of the tests of the suspect elements and the results of the genetic sequencing of the specimens of the case, the possibility of contracting the virus through foreign materials cannot be excluded,” the report concludes. .
So far, 69 close contacts of the cases have been isolated, and none of them have tested positive for Covid-19. The public is also advised to wear gloves and masks when receiving letters and packages from abroad.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that China previously warned its citizens in November 2021 that COVID-19 could be transmitted through packages sent by post. Hundreds of packages received were tested after three workers at a children’s clothing manufacturer in Hebei province tested positive for the virus.
To this accusation, Canada has also responded. A statement on the Canada Post website says the WHO and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) have publicly assured that the risks of handling mail, including international mail, are low.
According to PHAC, there is no risk of the coronavirus entering Canada via packages or parcels. In general, due to the low resistance of the coronavirus to surfaces, there is a low risk of spread from product or packaging being shipped over a period of days or weeks. Currently, there is no evidence that Covid-19 is transmitted through imported goods or packages.
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