Guangzhou dispels rumors of coronavirus outbreak among Africans

The authorities of Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province, Tuesday dispelled rumors that around 300,000 African people in the city's Yuexiu District had contracted the new coronavirus, calling the widespread rumors on Chinese social media platforms "irresponsible."

The rumors circulated online also claimed that the outbreak among the Africans had led to the lockdown of a local community.

"There's no such thing as 'lockdown' of Yaotai Community," Yan Qiang, an official with Guangzhou's Yuexiu District said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Yan said the community has tightened controls over the mobility of people and transport. "People and cars are free to come in or go out as long as they have municipal health codes and also finish other procedures including temperature check and wearing masks," he said.

The official also quashed the rumor that there were 300,000 African people in the district. "A total of 3,462 foreign nationals now reside in Yuexiu District. Top five countries with the most number of people here are 350 from the U.S., 308 from Mali, 227 from Nigeria, 208 from Canada and 200 from Australia."

According to Guangzhou coronavirus press briefing held on Tuesday, a total of 111 imported cases were detected in the city as of Monday, out of which 25 were foreign nationals.