OSLO (NORWAY) – Chinese and Norwegian authorities have concluded that Norwegian salmon did not cause the spread of coronavirus in a Beijing food market, the Norwegian fisheries and seafood minister said on Wednesday.
After a meeting between Chinese and Norwegian officials on Tuesday, both countries have concluded that the source of the outbreak could not be blamed on the fish from the Nordic country, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen said.
“We can clear away uncertainty and the halt in salmon export to China,” he told a video conference including journalists.
The resurgence of COVID-19 in the Chinese capital over the past six days has affected daily life for many, with some fearing the entire city is headed for a lockdown as the number of new cases mounts.
China stopped the import of salmon from Europe following reports on Saturday that the virus was discovered on equipment used for handling the fish at Beijing’s Xinfadi market. This led to supermarkets in the capital city removing salmon from their shelves.
Shares of Norwegian salmon farmers, which had fallen on Monday, rose on Wednesday with market leader Mowi up 3.6% and Salmar up 2.5% at 0840 GMT.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field