Health authorities in the southeastern Chinese city of Guangzhou apologized Tuesday for forcing their way into private homes looking for direct contacts of Covid-19 patients who might be hiding out.
Community workers and health officials in Liwan district broke the locks and entered 84 homes on July 10 after close contacts of Covid-19 patients were found hiding in the home, some of whom later tested positive, according to the official “Global Times” newspaper.
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In a statement, district authorities admitted that the action was “rude” and “insensitive” and promised to reward the affected residents. “The practice of emergency home investigation is too simple and crude and ignores residents’ feelings,” the district headquarters of the epidemic prevention and control commission said in a statement.”
“An investigation team has been set up to punish those involved,” it added. Chinese authorities are imposing increasingly extreme measures to safeguard Covid-19’s “zero cases” strategy.
