(Bloomberg) -- Anyone in Shanghai who wants to be tested for the coronavirus can now get one easily, in China's latest step to allay fears so that economic activity can resume.
Companies and individuals in Shanghai can book the nucleic acid tests at their own expense in designated hospitals and clinics, according to the city government's statement on Weibo. The tests will be conducted on a voluntary basis, aimed at helping companies and schools resume operations.
Similar efforts are likely to be rolled out nationwide after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called at a Wednesday meeting for large-scale nucleic acid and antibody testing to better prevent and control the epidemic. Chinese leaders are seeking to revive the virus-hit economy while cautiously preventing the resurgence of infection.
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While China has faced criticism that it has concealed the extent of the coronavirus outbreak, its efforts in mass testing are in striking contrast to the U.S., currently at the epicenter of the pandemic. Cases in the U.S. have exploded to more than 840,000 as attempts to track the outbreak have been hampered by shortages of tests.
In China, a serological survey has been initiated to capture the true scale of the virus outbreak and to reflect how the virus transmitted among people. The survey involves researchers taking blood samples from a representative group of people to see if they have generated antibodies to fight the virus, a sign they've been infected. Investigators are blood testing 11,000 people who lived in the epicenter city of Wuhan during the height of the epidemic.
In addition to accelerating testing, officials at the Wednesday meeting urged the production of more convenient and efficient testing equipment. Such equipment would be widely distributed to hospitals, ports, and other key destinations.
In Wuhan, the city where the virus first emerged, individuals need to take the nucleic acid tests before they leave after months of lockdown. Many companies in Wuhan have required employees to test if they have the coronavirus or its antibodies before they returned to work.
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
With assistance from Bloomberg
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