Harbin’s COVID-19 Task Force Criticized Over 15 New Infections

Officials in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province have met with the COVID-19 control and prevention task force of Harbin after it failed to control the city’s outbreak situation, according to local media.

On Wednesday, Heilongjiang reported 15 new COVID-19 cases all in Harbin, the provincial capital. During the meeting, provincial governor Wang Wentao criticized the Harbin outbreak control officials for failing to fulfill their responsibility to prevent local infection clusters.

The same day, Harbin’s health commission announced it had appointed Ding Fengshu to take over leadership of the COVID-19 task force.

For the past two weeks, Heilongjiang has been on alert after Chinese nationals returning from Russia caused a spike in imported infections. The province’s international border was sealed on April 8, and movement has been restricted in the city of Suifenhe, a major crossing, to prevent the spread of the disease. (Image: Xinhua)