China to roll out large-scale coronavirus testing as country gets back to work
- Antibody and Covid-19 tests to be done on ‘key populations’ to stamp out new outbreaks
- Local governments told to take preventive action for May “golden week” holidays
A top central group headed by Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday night that large-scale nucleic acid and antibody testing would be conducted for “key populations” to stop a rebound in infections and ensure an economic recovery and social order.
The meeting of the Central Leading Group on Responding to the Novel Coronavirus Disease Outbreak also called for more efficient production of test kits; for hospitals, customs agencies and other priority areas to be well equipped with testing equipment; and for those in key areas to be tested as much as possible.
Local governments needed to prevent cluster infections, especially in hospitals, and put controls in place to stop the spread of the disease for the Labour Day “golden week” national holiday starting May 1.
Guangzhou Medical University president Wang Xinhua said the large-scale testing was aimed at preventing outbreaks as students gradually returned to school and travellers continued to arrive from overseas.