Coronavirus: Chinese border city searches for illegal immigrants
- Two Myanmese in Ruili test positive, prompting authorities to crack down on illegal entrants
- New restrictions also imposed on the city’s jade trade
It is not clear how the two patients entered China but authorities in Ruili in the southwestern province of Yunnan announced late on Sunday that they were launching a search for illegal immigrants.
“A large-scale blanket investigation focusing on illegal immigrants will be carried out ... in townships, villages and communities, businesses, hotels, rented rooms, restaurants and construction sites,” the city said.
“The investigation must cover all areas and leave no stone unturned.”
Coronavirus: vaccine scandals haunt China’s winter flu shot drive
The first patient, a 32-year-old woman, tested positive but showed no symptoms on Saturday, only to develop symptoms the next day. A 16-year-old girl was sent to the People’s Hospital in Ruili after being confirmed as infected on Sunday.
Both patients are Myanmese nationals and entered China through Ruili, according to the Yunnan Health Commission. The province had seven confirmed imported cases and five asymptomatic carriers as of Sunday.
One Ruili neighbourhood where the first patient stayed went into lockdown on Saturday to prevent the spread of the disease, the city government said.
Coronavirus: not everyone in China will need vaccine, CDC chief says
Ruili, the largest border city with Myanmar, has not reported any local cases for months. It closed the border in April and imposed epidemic control measures on freight truck drivers.
The city called on villages near the border to remain closed around the clock. It also said it would mount more border patrols and crack down on people illegally crossing the border or taking in illegal immigrants.
Myanmar is a major jade producer and the Ruili government has also imposed restrictions on jade trading in the city.
“Vendors, management staff and live web broadcasters [of sales] must all undergo nucleic acid testing for the virus and only those with negative results can enter the [jade] markets. All epidemic prevention measures must be strictly implemented,” the city said.
The city government also urged residents to delay weddings, have simple funerals and cut meetings to avoid gatherings.
