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While the main officials of the Czech government debate how the easing of restrictions and the possibility of traveling abroad will proceed, the ten-million city of Harbin in China is beginning to be cautiously spoken of as the epicenter of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
People and the media around the world are speculating about what is happening there now, because Chinese state media are providing confusing information.
The ten-million Harbin borders Russia and, according to Chinese state media, the infection of the insidious coronavirus in Harbin was spread by a student who returned from New York. According to available information, it is said to be twenty-two-year-old Chan Mou.
After arriving in the country the girl underwent the mandatory fourteen-day quarantine and her tests did not confirm coronavirus. Nevertheless, the girl is said to have infected a seventy-eight-year-old neighbor, who spread the infection further and, according to the authorities, the virus has spread to at least 78 people.
Four districts of Harbin have been closed since the end of February and on Wednesday the city was to be completely sealed off.
Reports from various international media differ. The New York Times claims that the measures in Harbin are in no way the same as those in Wuhan.
By contrast, the Daily Mirror writes about a complete lockdown of the city and permission to enter only for vehicles with Harbin license plates.
„All confirmed cases, suspected cases, close contacts of asymptomatic patients and other close contacts should be quarantined and undergo testing,“ said the leadership of Harbin, according to state media.
„It’s happening here again. This time in the Maples International shopping mall,“ wrote human rights activist Jennifer Zeng about the video showing people collapsing, which she posted on Twitter.
