Photo:Xinhua

 A person infected with coronavirus, and her family members who did not report their travel history to authorities led to the resurgence of the epidemic in Shangqiu, Central China's Henan Province, the local government announced on Sunday. 

The authorities assured the public that they will be make public an investigation result promptly. 

Shangqiu reported Saturday four new confirmed COVID-19 patients and one with asymptomatic case, who are close relatives. 

The individual, surnamed Yin, tested positive during the all-member nucleic acid testing conducted at the Shangqiu City No.1 People's Hospital on Friday where she was hospitalized for childbirth since August 6. The four confirmed cases are Yin's son, daughter, and two sisters of Yin's husband. 

Epidemiological investigations into their travel history found that one of the sisters of Yin's husband, surnamed Guo, had traveled to a local medium-risk area, a shopping mall, on July 30 and had close contact without protective measures with a confirmed patient there. 

Guo had a fever later and has been placed under quarantine since August 4. Yin's family who had contact with Guo had been quarantined at home. 

However, when Yin was rushed to the hospital by the county's epidemic prevention and control department via an ambulance on August 6 for gestational hypertension, neither Yin nor her husband reported that their relative travelled to a medium-risk area. 

Yin's doctor claimed that Yin tested negative for COVID-19 upon her arrival at the hospital on August 6 and she and her family members concealed their relative's travel history despite being asked to disclose several times. 

Yin's husband explained that he neglected his sister's condition. 

The hospital has been placed under closed management and epidemiological investigation is ongoing. 

The local health commission told the media that there was a loophole during the progress of transferring the patient to the hospital, and investigation of the incident is underway.

Global Times