Mass COVID-19 testing starts in Beijing's core area
2021-01-22
Residents wait in line to receive nucleic acid tests outside the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Jan 22, 2021. Beijing's Dongcheng and Xicheng districts have arranged nucleic acid tests for all residents on Jan 22 and 23. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]
China's capital Beijing's core area - Xicheng and Dongcheng districts - announced on early Friday that the authority will conduct mass nucleic acid testing for all their residents for Friday and Saturday.
Considering the growing risks from both overseas and other places outside of Beijing, the local government decided to organize the testing by residential communities to prevent potential risks, said the announcement.
The Beijing city government also required that the authority start human serum testing for all people coming to Beijing from overseas since Dec 10, aiming to determine the virus transmission.
Residents wait in line to receive nucleic acid tests outside the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Jan 22, 2021. [Photo by Xu Jingxing/chinadaily.com.cn]
Beijing health commission said on Friday that the city reported three new local cases and one asymptomatic case on Thursday.
Daxing district, where the new cluster of cases was found in Beijing, has collected around 1.56 million samples for nucleic acid testing between Sunday and 2 pm Thursday, which has basically covered all residents in Daxing. Altogether 1,986 medical staff have participated in the mass testing work.
Daxing reported its first case on Sunday and swiftly started testing for nearby residents and close contacts.
Residents wait in line to receive nucleic acid tests at Galaxy SOHO in the Dongcheng district of Beijing on Jan 22, 2021. [Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn]
Residents wait in line to receive nucleic acid tests at the Lotus Market in the Shichahai area of Xicheng district in Beijing on Jan 22, 2021. [Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn]
A medical worker collects a throat swab from a resident at Tianqiao subdistrict in Xicheng district on Jan 22, 2021. [Photo by NiuYungang/chinadaily.com.cn]
Residents wait in line to take the nucleic acid tests at the Tianqiao subdistrict in Xicheng district on Jan 22, 2021. [Photo by NiuYungang/chinadaily.com.cn]
Residents wait in line to take nucleic acid tests at a community of Hepingli subdistrict in the Dongcheng district of Beijing on Jan 22, 2021. [Photo by Yan Yichen/chinadaily.com.cn]
