A market supervision official inspects a seafood market in Beijing on June 16, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, reported early today (August 14) that a sample of packaging on frozen shrimp from Ecuador tested positive for COVID-19 on August 12 during a regular inspection of a local frozen food wholesale market.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province yesterday registered traces of the novel coronavirus detected on frozen chicken wings from Brazil, according to local authorities.

Official data reveal that since July, nine regions across the Chinese mainland have reported in 40 days detection of COVID-19 on packaging or in containers of frozen seafood. Five regions among them—Xiamen (Fujian province), Dalian (Liaoning province), Pingxiang (Jiangxi province), Shapingba district (Chongqing city) and Wuhu (Anhui province)—said that the traces were found on frozen shrimp imported from Ecuador.

In response to fears that the virus could be passed through food to human, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that it saw no evidence of coronavirus being spread by food or packaging and urged people not to be afraid of the virus entering the food chain.  

"If the virus is actually in food, and we have no examples of where this virus has been transmitted as a foodborne, whereas someone has consumed a food product, the virus can be killed like other virus as well, if the meat is cooked," added Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead on COVID-19.

CGTN Infographic

Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns citizens against touching eyes, mouth and nose with hands after picking food products at markets. Citizens are also advised to wear face masks when entering a supermarket or farm produce market.

Editor: Becky

Sources: CGTN; Chinanews.com, Guangzhou Daily