Capital implements new controls on cold chain sector

Workers regularly tested, freezers inspected as nation's fight against novel coronavirus continues

To ensure food safety and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, Beijing has tightened its supervision and epidemic prevention and control measures on imported frozen foods and cold chain warehouses.

The capital has implemented regular nucleic acid tests for the 33,900 people involved in its cold chain food industry and makes regular inspections of some 8,000 freezers around the city. The municipal government also requires that all businesses refrain from trading in imported frozen foods that are not accompanied by negative nucleic acid test results, disinfection certificates or traceable information.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak in the coastal city of Dalian, Liaoning province, was traced to a freezer worker. This is the third local wave of infections caused by cold chain transmission.