Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

AsiaWire

Chinese officials in the city with the second most coronavirus deaths have apologised after disease-prevention workers violently accosted a family and smashed their property after they were found gambling at home in breach of quarantine rules.

The incident, which was widely discussed online, took place on 13th February in a village in Xiaochang County, which is in the city of Xiaogan – just 37 miles from COVID-19 epicentre Wuhan in Central China’s Hubei Province.

Footage of the gambling intervention showed disease-prevention workers storming into the village home where family members, still in their pyjamas, are seen sitting around a table playing the popular Chinese tile-based game mahjong.

After failing to persuade them to stop their gathering, which is seen as a potential health risk amid the coronavirus outbreak, an altercation ensues, during which the family is violently ejected from their home and their mahjong table destroyed in front of them, as this video shows.

The heavy-handed tactic, while viewed as necessary, drew much criticism online, leading to officials issuing a formal apology on 18th February.

Health officials said the method was “inappropriate”, adding that the village chief has twice offered personal apologies to the family, who have been accepting and understanding.

None of the personnel involved is believed to have been punished as a result of the incident.

According to reports, 82 have died as a result of the novel coronavirus in the city of Xiaogan, where there are more than 2,700 confirmed cases, making it the second-worst hit behind epicentre Wuhan.

This week, the Xiaogan municipal government announced a mandatory quarantine order for all 4.8 million of its residents in a desperate attempt to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

Those who leave their homes during the ban face 10 days in prison and a fine of 55 GBP.

The COVID-19 death toll has risen to 2,010 worldwide, with all but six victims in mainland China.

More than 75,200 have been infected so far.

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