Coronavirus found on multiple auto part packaging samples in China

BEIJING - Multiple auto part packaging samples have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in various parts of China, after a company engaged in auto part sales reported a confirmed COVID-19 case.

In the city of Jincheng, North China's Shanxi province, the local center for disease control and prevention detected the virus on auto tire packaging, according to the city's COVID-19 prevention and control office late on Saturday.

The office then activated an emergency response. Personnel who came in close contact with the goods have been quarantined and all have tested negative. Related goods have been sealed.

In Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, five samples of the packaging of auto parts in a 4S store tested positive for the virus, according to the city's headquarters for COVID-19 prevention and control.

The statement issued Sunday by the headquarters said three batches of auto parts from the company where a confirmed case was reported were distributed to three 4S stores in Hohhot.

One of the stores was later found to have the packaging samples that tested positive.

All three stores have been locked down and the related auto parts sealed. The personnel who came in close contact with the goods have been quarantined and have so far tested negative.

Three other positive samples taken from auto part packaging were found in the city of Cangzhou in Hebei province, and Yantai and Linyi in Shandong province, according to local authorities.

Nucleic acid tests were carried out on related auto parts and personnel in different cities of China after an employee from a Beijing company engaged in auto part sales was diagnosed with COVID-19 and some auto part packages tested positive for the virus in late December.