Imported clothes from South Korea tainted

Beijing reported eight locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 patients and one asymptomatic case on Monday, including an infection cluster related to a shop that imported clothing, according to the city's health authority on Tuesday.

In recent days, some other cities, including Dalian, Liaoning province, and Changshu, Jiangsu province, reported infections related to imported clothes from South Korea.

Dalian reported on Saturday that the gene sequence of one case did not match a recent round of the epidemic in the city.

That case involved a staff member at a clothing shop in Dalian. Positive test results were obtained from samples of the clothes and the covers of the packaging.

"It's possible that the person was infected by contacting the contaminated imported items," health authorities in Dalian said.

Another case in Changshu was reported on Saturday and items of clothing tested positive. Those four items were bought by the case online from South Korea.

Experts remind the public that people should bring 75 percent alcohol spray and tissue when fetching packages to disinfect them and should not take the outer wrappings or boxes home.