Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

SHENZHEN reported one asymptomatic COVID-19 case imported from Africa late at night Tuesday, the city’s health authorities said yesterday.

The 32-year-old patient, surnamed Hu, is a Chinese citizen and worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before entering the country.

According to Hu, she had a sore throat when in the central African country and tested positive for COVID-19 via a local nucleic acid test.

Her symptoms disappeared after taking the medicine and she tested negative in all four nucleic acid tests she subsequently took.

It is reported that Hu arrived at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Dec. 29, 2020. Her nucleic acid test result was negative upon entry and she declared that she had been infected with COVID-19 before.

In accordance with the “14+7” quarantine policy for inbound travelers in Guangdong Province, Hu was transferred to the quarantine site in Jiangmen City for 14-day centralized isolation and medical observation from Dec. 29, 2020 to Jan. 12, 2021.

During the period, Hu received three nucleic acid tests, and the results were all negative.

After 14 days of centralized isolation, Hu arrived at Boruisi Hotel in Huide Building, Longhua District of Shenzhen, for seven days of health management.

On the last day of health management Tuesday, Hu took a nucleic acid test and the result was positive. Her result was reaffirmed positive after a check conducted by the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at 11:45 p.m.

Hu was then transferred to the emergency ward of Shenzhen No. 3 People’s Hospital for observation and treatment. She was diagnosed as an asymptomatic case of COVID-19 by a panel of experts and is currently in a stable condition.

According to preliminary investigations, as of 2:13 p.m. yesterday, Hu had two close contacts, and one close contact of the close contacts. All of the three close contacts have been isolated for medical observation and the nucleic acid test results were negative.

The Shenzhen CDC has launched a screening and conducted disinfection in the building where Hu had stayed.