Editing Fresh Test For Wuhan As Cluster Sparks Mass Virus Screening

A new cluster of cases has sparked mass coronavirus testing in the central Chinese city of Wuhan<br>  <br>Nervous residents of China's pandemic epicentre of Wuhan queued up across the city to be tested for the novel coronavirus on Thursday after a new cluster of cases sparked a mass screening campaign.<br> <br>Lines of residents keeping their social distance formed at [http://www.buzznet.com/?s=makeshift%20testing makeshift testing] sites set up under tents in parking lots, parks and residential communities as rain trickled down in the metropolis of 11 million people.<br> <br>"This is a good thing. It's a way to be responsible towards others and to yourself," a 40-year-old man told AFP after completing the process.<br> <br>The man had already been tested 10 days before, but given Wuhan's history as the source of the virus and China's worst-hit city he welcomed a little extra assurance.<br> <br>"If you have the opportunity, wouldn't you do it again?" he asked.<br> <br>The previously unknown contagion emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, prompting the Chinese government to impose a tight lockdown on the city on January 23, isolating the industrial and transport centre from the rest of the country and confining residents to their homes.<br> <br>According to government figures more than 3,800 people have died from COVID-19 in the city, accounting for the vast majority of fatalities in China.<br>          Life is slowly returning to normal in Wuhan, where a coronavirus lockdown was lifted in April<br>  <br>The quarantine was only fully lifted in early April,  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-huu-nghi-quan-nam-ninh-que-lam-4-ngay.html tour du lịch quế lâm] and life is slowly returning to normal.<br> <br>But Wuhan was given a fresh jolt when several new local infections emerged last weekend after more than a month in which none were reported.<br> <br>Fearful of a reliving the virus nightmare, officials have launched a drive to conduct nucleic acid tests on the city's entire population.<br> <br>Men, women, children and the elderly filed forward to medical workers in head-to-toe white protective suits and plastic face shields, who recorded their personal details before quickly jabbing a swab into the backs of their throats.<br> <br>- On edge -<br> <br>Some remained anxious.<br> <br>"I know this plan requiring the city to do large-scale testing serves as a basic safeguard. I wasn't planning to get myself tested," said a woman who did not give her name.<br>          China has largely brought its coronavirus outbreak under control, but it has been on edge about a potential second wave of infections<br>  <br>"But the safety measures inside are really bad. (People) are too close and the testing person handled a lot of samples from people but I didn't see him wash his hands."<br> <br>China has largely brought the novel coronavirus under control, but has been on edge recently about a potential second wave of infections as it has lifted lockdowns and restrictions across the country.<br> <br>Besides the six new Wuhan cases, virus clusters have appeared in recent weeks in the northeastern provinces of Jilin and  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-trung-quoc-huu-nghi-quan-nam-ninh-que-lam-4-ngay.html kynghidongduong.vn] Heilongjiang, which border Russia.<br> <br>President Xi Jinping told a Communist Party leadership meeting on Thursday that containment measures must be stepped up in Jilin, Heilongjiang and Wuhan "to forestall resurgence of infections", according to the official Xinhua news agency.<br> <br>"We must never allow our hard-earned previous achievements on epidemic control to be made in vain," Xi said.<br> <br>With the virus taking hold in other nations, China has barred most foreigners from entering the country.<br> <br>Despite the lingering concerns, pandemic-hardened residents of Wuhan have done their best to resume their lives.<br> <br>Dozens of people kicked up their heels to Chinese folk music on a promenade by the Yangtze River on Wednesday night, shrugging off the concerns of a new wave.<br> <br>Couples wearing masks pranced under street lamps, with the men leading the women into turns near a bridge lit with huge Chinese characters saying: "Go Wuhan".<br> <br>"I'm very happy (to be dancing outside)," said Qiu Jumei, a 53-year-old hotel waitress.<br> <br>"The atmosphere wasn't the same when I was at home and dancing alone. It was not fun," she added.<br><br>"This is much better."<br> <br>burs-dma-lth/ch<br>