Shoppers' Concern Over Fish Samples Containing Covid

Shoppers at To Kwa Wan Market said they will step up precautionary measures after the Covid-19 virus was found on fish samples there.

Health authorities said on Thursday that they had found the virus on samples of imported frozen fish on sale at the Wah Kee fish stall.

Further investigation on Friday revealed that the fish were imported from Indonesia, and had also been distributed to wholesale markets in Cheung Sha Wan and Aberdeen, as well as five other retailers.

It was the first positive test involving imported frozen or chilled food and its packaging since the Centre for Food Safety began testing a year ago.

Officials said as a precaution, those who had been in contact with the problematic products will either be ordered to get tested, or be taken into quarantine.

Some shoppers told RTHK that they're worried about increased risks of infection.

A woman surnamed Lau said she is doing everything to protect herself.

"I will change the plastic bags after getting home... and wash [the fish] before putting it in the fridge," she said.

Another customer, meanwhile, said she was not too worried.

"I have got my jab and taken all the prevention measures. I've got to go grocery shopping and cook every day anyway," said a woman, also surnamed Lau.

Dr Leung Chi-chiu, an infectious disease expert, said efforts should be taken to prevent a possible outbreak.

"We need to make certain that all workers who have been in regular contact with this contaminated food item should be tested for the presence of the virus because up till now, for all suspected outbreaks due to importation through this cold chain, they primarily involved workers who regularly came into contact with these cold storage items," he told RTHK's Violet Wong.

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