China's Special Economic Zone Shenzhen Strengthens COVID-19 Precautions

Truck Drivers Traveling Between Hong Kong and Shenzhen Test Positive for COVID-19
Health Authorities Strengthen Quarantine at Ports... Economic Impact on China Inevitable if Spread Continues

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese health authorities have been put on alert after a truck driver traveling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

As Shenzhen is a special economic zone, a breach in its quarantine system could significantly impact the Chinese economy. In particular, many Korean companies have operations in Shenzhen, which could adversely affect Korea-China trade.

China's state-run Global Times reported on the 28th that after Chinese health authorities confirmed the COVID-19 infection of the truck driver traveling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, they have been conducting COVID-19 tests on thousands of residents, including close contacts. The confirmed case is known to have visited not only Shenzhen but also other areas such as Dongguan City in Guangdong Province, indicating a wide scope of quarantine measures, the newspaper said.

Chinese health authorities are currently conducting COVID-19 tests on nine individuals believed to have had close contact with the confirmed case; eight have tested negative, and one is awaiting test results, according to reports.

It is reported that Chinese health authorities have not yet identified the infection route of this confirmed case. Accordingly, experts in epidemic prevention are calling for measures such as location tracking and expanded COVID-19 testing to control the infectious disease, the newspaper added.

The greatest concern for Chinese health authorities is asymptomatic carriers.

Professor Wang Feiyu of Peking University School of Public Health said, "Completely closing the port between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is unrealistic," and added, "Asymptomatic carriers should be identified, and if necessary, repeated COVID-19 testing should be conducted to minimize risks."

The newspaper emphasized that if the situation worsens, transactions such as goods transportation between Hong Kong and the mainland will become impossible, and quarantine measures, especially at ports, must be strengthened.

Professor Gage Fukuda, a clinical professor at the University of Hong Kong School of Public Health, said, "The current infectious disease situation in Hong Kong is serious," and added, "Hong Kong's goal is not to completely eliminate infections but to keep the number of asymptomatic infections low."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.