City-wide COVID-19 testing is conducted after new cases emerge

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The city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province has activated a plan to conduct a city-wide nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 after new cases were reported.

Authorities in East China's coastal city Qingdao sealed off some blocks of local residential compounds and hospitals after three asymptomatic COVID-19 patients were found on Sunday.

A preliminary and epidemiological investigation showed that the cases were all related to the Qingdao Chest Hospital, which has been receiving COVID-19 patients from overseas, according to the health authority of Qingdao. The source of infection is under investigation.

The city's anti-epidemic group immediately activated the emergency response by locking down the residential compounds where those patients live, as well as the Qingdao Chest Hospital and emergency department of Qingdao Central Hospital where the patients had been treated. Close contacts will be given nucleic acid tests and closely monitored.

All related environments have undergone disinfection. 

One of the patients is a 58-year-old man surnamed Han, who had been to Qingdao Central Hospital and had intended to be hospitalized in Qingdao Chest Hospital for phthisis. The other two were a nurse working at Qingdao Chest Hospital and her husband, who is a driver. 

On September 24, Qingdao reported two asymptomatic cases in a routine test of workers involved in cold chain production.

The city will complete nucleic acid testing in five districts within the next three days, while the testing will cover the whole city in five days, according to a notice issued by the municipal health commission, adding that the results will be released in a timely manner.

Starting from 7 a.m. Monday, the residents of a community in the city's Shinan District began to line up at a testing point to receive nucleic acid testing. They were notified to undergo the testing on Sunday evening.

"It took about 20 minutes to wait before getting the testing. It's a responsible move to conduct tests for ourselves and for others, too, " said a local resident surnamed Wang.

Qingdao has reported six new confirmed cases and six new asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 since fresh cases emerged in the city over the weekend, the municipal health commission said.

Epidemiological investigations found that the cases were linked with the Qingdao Chest Hospital, which had been used to treat imported COVID-19 patients.

Source: xinhua

Editor: Crystal H-AD 

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