Seafood in focus as Beijing grapples with new cases

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - China on Friday reported 32 new coronavirus cases, most of which were detected in the capital Beijing.

The country’s National Health Commission said in a statement that 25 cases of COVID-19 were reported in Beijing, while four of the new cases were imported. Officials said no deaths were reported.

Beijing was coronavirus-free for 55 days but reported return of the deadly infection early this week.

Local administration and health officials have focused on seafood stalls after a cluster of infections was found in Beijing.

Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention's Chief Epidemiologist Wu Zunyou said most of the cases were linked to the Xinfadi wholesale food market, daily South China Morning Post reported.

“More seafood vendors were infected, followed by beef and lamb vendors,” the report cited Wu as saying. “The seafood vendors also showed symptoms earlier than others,” he added.

After originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December, COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has spread to 188 countries and regions across the world. Brazil, the US and India are currently the worst-hit regions.

China has confirmed 83,325 coronavirus cases, out of which 78,398 people have been cured and discharged, while 4,634 people died of the disease.

There are a total of 1,864 imported cases in the country of whom 1,773 patients have been discharged from hospital after recovery.

- South Korea

Meanwhile, South Korea is also facing a continuous streak of new cases with 49 more reported on Friday.

Health authorities are warning of another “possible wave of infections”, Yonhap reported.

The country has reported a total of 12,306 COVID-19 cases, so far. Some 10,835 patients have been released after full recovery.

Most of the cases are being reported from capital Seoul. Twenty-six cases were reported in the capital and adjoining areas on Friday. However, officials have reported new infections reported outside the capital too.

“It is worrisome that cluster infections have been reported outside Seoul, and we will speed up the testing of potential cases and contact tracing, to stem further spread,” Son Young-rae, an official with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.

South Korea has reported 1,396 imported cases, while 280 people have died due to the infection. It has also conducted 1.15 million virus tests since Jan. 3.