authorities promise 4.7 million rapid tests in 48 hours

It won’t be the second wave, but even China now fears that it will find itself in an emergency again after 138 new cases of people infected with Covid-19 were reported in Kashi prefecture in the Xinjiang autonomous region. And as seen in the past, in the face of a possible epidemiological crisis situation, the Beijing authorities are eager to show their muscles to the world (also for propaganda): according to the Chinese Global Times, Kashi prefecture promises to carry out tests in about 48 hours. the entire population of the province: 4.7 million inhabitants.

Nucleic acid testing is scheduled to begin on October 25 and is expected to end on October 27. In the first 24 hours, the tests carried out would already be 2.8 million. All this following the deployment by the region of 600 workers from other areas, including Aksu and Hotan. While the Kashi authorities have formed a team of more than 2,500 professionals.

The discovery of the potential focus dates back to October 24, when a 17-year-old girl who works in a garment factory in Shufu County tested positive. The local health commission said the ‘patient zero’ remained in Shufu county all year and was not consciously in contact with any confirmed or suspected cases, fever patients or wild animals. The administration tested 831 employees at the clothing factory where he works for nucleic acid, and none tested positive. However, 137 close contacts of the woman’s parents were positive but asymptomatic, reports the Nova agency.

Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Global Times that the situation appears dire if the small town has detected more than 100 asymptomatic cases in one day. “I think some of the asymptomatic cases will turn into confirmed cases later,” Zeng said. “Now the speed of local testing is very high. However, as asymptomatic infections are still contagious and patient zero has not been found, the risk of a community group infection is very high,” explained immunologist Wang. Ying . “The urgent task now is to study in detail the contact history of 138 people, reconstruct how the transmission chain was formed and find the source. The process can be completed in a week,” he added.

Meanwhile, the authorities have ordered a mini closure: classes in all primary, secondary and kindergartens are suspended until October 30. Shops in the city will be open to ensure a sufficient daily supply. People traveling from Kashi and Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefectures to Urumqi Airport must be quarantined. Upon arrival, you will be picked up from buses and taken to designated hotels for nucleic acid testing.