Shanghai says quarantine staff won’t enter homes without permission after public outcry
- Footage of white-clad workers entering people’s houses to spray disinfectant everywhere prompted online protests
- The move did little to dampen online scepticism with internet users warning Shanghaiers to cover their electronic devices in plastic to protect them
Jin Chen, an official from the city government, told a press conference on Tuesday that disinfection is an important link of the Covid pandemic control plan and rules and procedures have been established to disinfect the homes of infected Covid patients.
The local news portal, ThePaper.cn, also reported that officials have confirmed that quarantine staff will not make forced entries and will seek permission before entering residents’ homes for disinfection.
Last weekend widely shared videos showed quarantine staff in hazmat suits and armed with disinfectants knocking on people’s doors in Huangpu district to carry out disinfection.
The disinfection raids were apparently not limited to Shanghai. Another video showed a family in Suining in Jiangsu province being visited by disinfection staff, who even checked the refrigerator, sprayed disinfectant on the sofa and washing drying on the balcony.
ThePaper reported that officials in Suining said they compensated the families with food and gift bags.