[HONG KONG] Extra truck drivers liable for transporting meals provides into Hong Kong have examined constructive for coronavirus on the mainland China border, sparking issues that the town could also be hit by one other spherical of fresh-food shortages.
9 cross-border drivers have examined constructive since Feb 4, together with two on Thursday, in keeping with an announcement by border management authorities within the mainland metropolis of Shenzhen. All locations visited by the 2 drivers had been disinfected and the native authorities has knowledgeable Hong Kong concerning the instances, it mentioned.
Whereas the newest infections have not affected provides to date, Hong Kong has solely simply recovered from this week’s sudden scarcity of greens after mainland China briefly shut border-crossing operations following a handful of constructive checks amongst truck drivers.
Final weekend’s swift crackdown – typical of the inflexible measures the mainland imposes to quash potential outbreaks – noticed grocery store cabinets stripped naked and costs surge as fresh-produce provide dropped as a lot as 70 per cent.
The newest two instances did not use the border crossing designated for contemporary meals transport, in keeping with Thomas Ng, chairman of Hong Kong Meals Council and a contemporary produce provider.
However the logistics business fears China could step up virus management measures to stop infections from Hong Kong, which is reporting document every day case numbers, from spilling over, mentioned Chan Fu-chuen, vice chairman of the Chamber of Hong Kong Logistics Business. That may make border checkpoints extra congested and have an effect on the provision chain, he mentioned.
Hong Kong depends on mainland China for greater than 90 per cent of its greens and fresh-water fish, and imports a variety of different items from development supplies to dwelling home equipment. Vegetable provide had returned to 90 per cent of regular and was anticipated to additional stabilise, the federal government mentioned Thursday. Operations at border management factors had been easy and provides of chilled pork, poultry and eggs remained regular, it mentioned. A authorities consultant did not instantly reply to a request for touch upon Friday.
Nonetheless, a way of warning stays as Hong Kong battles an unprecedented virus outbreak that is set to see a document of greater than 1,320 new instances reported on Friday and has prompted officers to hunt assist from mainland China. Each locations are the final international holdouts pursing a Covid Zero technique.
Some mainland factories have rejected Hong Kong drivers from getting into services, fearing a possible an infection could result in shutdown of their operations, in keeping with Chan.
“The scenario may be very dangerous,” he mentioned. “If extra infections are discovered amongst drivers, Shenzhen could additional tighten management measures and the worst could also be but to come back.” BLOOMBERG