Residents in the city of Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang Province line up to take nucleic acid testing on December 12, 2021. Photo: VCG

A fresh supermarket in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang Province has been closed for disinfection after more than 20 infections of COVID-19 were identified there on Sunday. 

A statement released by the Shaoxing epidemic prevention and control work group on Sunday read that several positive infections of COVID-19 reported in the city were found related to the Datong fresh supermarket in Shangyu district. The work group called for local residents who had been to the supermarket between December 2 and 9 to report to local authorities. 

The fresh market was transformed from a shopping mall three years ago, with its first floor rented to merchants to sell fresh foods and the second floor turned into a supermarket, according to Jimu News.

All kinds of raw foods such as pork, seafood, fruits as well as cooked foods are sold at the market on the first floor, a consumer surnamed Fan told Jimu News. 

According to the notification from the Health Commission of Zhejiang Province on Monday, Shaoxing reported 55 new local infections on Sunday. Most of the accumulated cases in Shaoxing were reported in Shangyu. 

The epidemiological survey reports from more than 10 people released by the local health authority showed that several people had been to the supermarket, including five assumed merchants at the supermarket due to their routine commutes between home and the supermarket and long hours spent at the market. 

The supermarket was closed for disinfection as of Sunday afternoon, according to Jimu News. 

A document circulated online showed that more than 20 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were related to the supermarket. The information was confirmed on Sunday by the local epidemic prevention and control work group. 

As of 9 pm on Sunday, Shaoxing has reported an accumulated 107 confirmed cases and one asymptomatic infection, with 105 confirmed cases and one silent carrier reported in Shangyu, according to a press briefing on Sunday night. 

All 108 patients have been receiving treatment at the city's designated hospitals and they are all in a stable condition. 

So far, disinfection work has been carried out at all the related venues which have been placed under management. 

Besides, three makeshift laboratories were put into use on Monday for nucleic acid testing to be carried out in key areas of the city. 

As of 8 pm on Sunday, 2.68 million samples have been collected in Shangyu, among which 885,000 samples have been tested. 

Global Times