Wenjindu Checkpoint extended 3.5 service hours Monday to facilitate cross-border trucks that were affected by the checkpoint’s temporary closure due to a border-passing truck driver testing positive for COVID-19, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.
The driver who tested positive earlier Monday had a travel record at Wenjindu Checkpoint, so the checkpoint was temporarily closed that day for disinfection and related pandemic control work.
As a result, starting Monday noon, a long line of cross-border trucks was seen near Wenjindu Checkpoint, the only designated checkpoint for trucks carrying fresh vegetables, live poultry and aquatic animals to Hong Kong.
Before the checkpoint’s lockdown was lifted, no vehicles were allowed to enter, leading to congestion at Yanhe South Road near the checkpoint.
Related departments immediately cooperated to handle the congestion and as of 7:50 p.m., the checkpoint resumed services. Waiting vehicles carrying fresh vegetables and live poultry to Hong Kong were all able to cross the checkpoint by 10:30 p.m.
However, there were still 14 vehicles transporting such products to Hong Kong on their way to Shenzhen. After learning about this, the Shenzhen Municipal Office of Port of Entry and Exit contacted their Hong Kong counterpart to come up with a solution of extending the checkpoint’s service for 3.5 hours from its original closing time of 10 p.m. As of 1:05 a.m. the next day, all vehicles on record had passed through the checkpoint, said the report.
It is reported that vegetables, livestock and poultry supplied to Hong Kong via Wenjindu Checkpoint account for more than 80 percent of the Hong Kong market.
At present, over 300 vehicles each day transport vegetables, live poultry and aquatic animals from Shenzhen.
Two more COVID positive cross-border truck drivers were reported yesterday by the city’s office of port of entry and exit. The number of infected cross-border truck drivers has grown to seven since Friday.