Coronavirus: eastern Chinese city ramps up zero-Covid strategy with tests every 48 hours

Name: Shanghai fences in residential buildings to combat Covid-19
Uploaded: 2022-04-29T06:31:04.000Z
Duration: 1 min 41 s
Description: Shanghai fences in residential buildings to combat Covid-19

Hangzhou in Zhejiang province has set up around 6,500 testing stations for residents and visitors

Different strategies to handle outbreaks in Shenzhen and Shanghai cited as shaping vigilant approach and routine testing policy

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A staff member disinfects the imported goods stored at the warehouse at the Hangzhou Transfar highway port in Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province. Photo: Xinhua

Holly Chik

Published: 2:31pm, 29 Apr 2022Updated: 4:50pm, 29 Apr 2022

China’s city of Hangzhou has adopted a frequent Covid-19 testing routine since Thursday to beat the highly transmissible Omicron variant, in line with the country’s “early detection” goal under its dynamic zero-Covid policy.

The provincial capital of eastern Zhejiang province and home to 12 million people has set up around 6,500 testing stations for residents and visitors to get PCR tested every 48 hours, according to local authorities.

From Saturday, residents must show their test results to enter their residential areas, offices, public transport, public venues and schools, it added. Those who enter the city should be tested in the 48 hours before arriving.

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Shanghai fences in residential buildings to combat Covid-19

Ying Xumin, deputy director of the Hangzhou health commission, said the frequent testing routine was key to detecting infections as early as possible and minimising the risk of spread in public venues.

“Hangzhou faces a severe risk of imported cases [from other parts of the country]. The Labour Day [five-day] holiday is around the corner and there will be more movement of people and gatherings.

“We launched the routine testing service to secure the hard-won results of Covid-19 control and maintain the normal operations of businesses and life in the city,” he said, adding that 7.4 million people were tested on Thursday.

On Friday, the city reported seven new asymptomatic infections. One was an arrival from outside the city identified at the railway station and the rest were detected within local areas already under isolation.