What’s new: Shenzhen’s Luohu District neighboring Hong Kong suspended door delivery of international mail and parcels Wednesday after recent Covid-19 flare-ups were linked to imported goods.
The district set up nine pick-up centers to process and disinfect all inbound parcels, where recipients can collect deliveries, according to a statement by the district authority.
The Shenzhen city government last week issued guidelines for courier services in the city to enhance virus control measures for international packages and relevant staffers. Residents were encouraged to disinfect packages upon arrival.
The context: Shenzhen has been rattled by a series of virus flare-ups since the beginning of the year. Some cases were suspected of being linked to inbound packages and goods that tested positive with the virus.
Since early in the pandemic, China has adopted strict disinfection rules for inbound packages. The recent resurgence forced authorities to redouble such efforts.
According to the World Health Organization, the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other via droplets that are inhaled. People may also be infected when touching their eyes, nose or mouth after touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated, or by droplets that are suspended in the air in poorly ventilated spaces.
Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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