China tests entire city for virus

BEIJING AFP Oct13, 2020-  China rushed to test an entire city of nine million people within days on Tuesday after a minor coronavirus outbreak, underlining the country’s capacities at a time when European countries in particular are struggling to contain surging new infections.   

The virus is still spreading rapidly worldwide, with over one million deaths and 37 million infections, and many nations that suppressed their first outbreaks are now battling with a second wave. In the absence of a vaccine, governments are wary of allowing the virus to spread unchecked, with China -- where Covid-19 first emerged late last year -- launching a drive to test all residents of Qingdao city after a handful of cases were detected on Sunday.   

More than four million samples had been collected as of Tuesday afternoon, Qingdao authorities said, adding that 1.9 million results had been obtained.   

Chinese officials intend to test the entire city -- around 9.4 million people -- by Thursday.