City in China Went into Lockdown After Student Came Back from New York & Infected More Than 70 People

If you’ve read the news, you’ll have realised that China’s making some remarkable progress on the Covid-19 case, with a numeric figure that used to be in the thousands now dwindled to two single digits.

In fact, as of 24 April 2020, Mainland China reports just 10 new cases from the day before and just 959 active cases in total.

Truly, what a remarkable turn around.

Though to be fair, it’s a feat not without its own doubts and skepticism, as claim after claim of fraudulent reporting and reporter ‘annihilation’ dog the otherwise impeccable achievement. But I say let’s take it with a positive mindset, and hope that the reported figures are genuine.

But anyway, it seems that China’s not entirely out of the loop just yet. Even though the local waters might have calmed down, the risk of infection is still very much present…

Whether it’s nearby… or from afar.

According to Shanghaiist, another Chinese city has fallen prey to the dreary lockdown conception as the country attempts to hold a second wave of coronavirus infections at bay. And this time around, it’s the city of Harbin which drew the short end of the stick, after one woman unknowingly spread the virus to more than 70 people.

City in China Goes into Lockdown After Student Returned from New York & Infected More Than 70 People

According to the news report, the woman is a 22-year-old student who had returned home from New York just last month. As per regulations, she completed 14 days of quarantine and subsequently tested negative for the virus, with no outward symptoms present. All was clear, everyone thought. Surely it’s fine now, they thought.

Or so they thought.

Unbeknownst to the hapless citizens of Harbin, the woman was allegedly a silent carrier of the virus: someone who harbours the virus but shows no visible indications of it. And as it turns out, her neighbours are about to discover that… the hard way.

Apparently, the neighbours then held a gathering, which triggered a host of unknown infections. One of the attendees would later suffer a stroke and cause an infection chain to spread at two local hospitals.

To date, the virus is believed to have infected more than 70 people in the city, including patients from Inner Mongolia and Liaoning province. According to reports, there are currently 52 active confirmed cases and 23 asymptomatic infections in Harbin.

Lockdown

All residential committees and villages in the city have since been imposed with a lockdown, in an attempt to restrict the growth of the outbreak.

Non-residents will not be permitted entry, and all public gatherings, including weddings and funerals, have been prohibited.

Harbin residents have also been encouraged to report anyone who flouts quarantine regulations upon return to China. Should the intel be verified as accurate, the informant will be rewarded with 3,000 yuan (S$423).

Practice Care At All Times

It’s easy to let down your guard when you’re around someone with no visible symptoms, but if the aforementioned case is anything to go by…

It’s that silent carriers, much like silent farts, are the deadliest.

So practice personal hygiene at all times, because you never know when it’s gonna hit you.

Like a silent fart, the virus is potent… and lethal.

Now you know why Singapore needs to extend the CB period.