Coronavirus: Chinese city says sorry for break-in drive to find close contacts
- Guangzhou district apologises for breaking locks to enter 84 homes in search of close contacts of Covid-19 cases
- ‘Deeply saddened by this rude and wrong behaviour’, statement from Liwan district epidemic authorities says
Officials in Guangzhou’s Liwan district had entered 84 such households earlier this month after breaking the locks, to screen for close contacts who might be hiding out to avoid isolation orders.
In a statement on Monday, district authorities admitted the action had been rude and insensitive, and promised to compensate those affected.
“The emergency household investigation practice is too simple and crude, and ignores residents’ feelings,” the statement from the district epidemic prevention and control headquarters said.
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Community workers and ground-level officials dismantled locks to enter the houses early on July 10 after some close contacts of recently confirmed Covid-19 patients were found holed up at home, some of whom tested positive later.
The whole process of lock removal and household inspection was recorded, and security personnel were sent to the buildings concerned to ensure protection of residents’ property, district officials said. But the residents, who were mostly sent to hotel quarantine, were not notified of the matter.
