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| Coronavirus: Can China test all of Wuhan in only 10 days? | Coronavirus: Can China test all of Wuhan in only 10 days? |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| China is drawing up ambitious plans to test the entire population of Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began. | China is drawing up ambitious plans to test the entire population of Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began. |
| The announcement came after the emergence of six new coronavirus cases in the city - the first ones since early April. | The announcement came after the emergence of six new coronavirus cases in the city - the first ones since early April. |
| The authorities had originally promised to test all 11 million people in 10 days. | The authorities had originally promised to test all 11 million people in 10 days. |
| But it now appears they might be aiming for a less ambitious timetable. | But it now appears they might be aiming for a less ambitious timetable. |
| How long will the testing take? | How long will the testing take? |
| In late April, the Hubei provincial government reported 63,000 people were being tested in Wuhan every day. | In late April, the Hubei provincial government reported 63,000 people were being tested in Wuhan every day. |
| And by 10 May, that figure had dropped to just under 40,000. | And by 10 May, that figure had dropped to just under 40,000. |
| There are more than 60 testing centres across the city, according to the official Hubei Daily newspaper. | There are more than 60 testing centres across the city, according to the official Hubei Daily newspaper. |
| These have a maximum capacity of 100,000 tests a day at most, making it hard to see how a target of testing the entire population in just 10 days could be met. | These have a maximum capacity of 100,000 tests a day at most, making it hard to see how a target of testing the entire population in just 10 days could be met. |
| So the authorities have indicated the tests will not all start and finish within the same 10-day period. | So the authorities have indicated the tests will not all start and finish within the same 10-day period. |
| "Some districts [in the city] will start from 12 May, others from 17 May, for example," the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control said. | "Some districts [in the city] will start from 12 May, others from 17 May, for example," the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control said. |
| "Each district finishes its tests within 10 days from the date it started." | "Each district finishes its tests within 10 days from the date it started." |
| And according to a Reuters report on 13 May, preparations for carrying out tests had begun in two out of the city's 13 districts. | And according to a Reuters report on 13 May, preparations for carrying out tests had begun in two out of the city's 13 districts. |
| What proportion have been tested already? | What proportion have been tested already? |
| The authorities say they have now tested more than three million people in the city. | The authorities say they have now tested more than three million people in the city. |
| Wuhan University pathogen biology department deputy director Yang Zhanqiu told the Global Times newspaper he believed up to five million Wuhan residents may have already been tested. | Wuhan University pathogen biology department deputy director Yang Zhanqiu told the Global Times newspaper he believed up to five million Wuhan residents may have already been tested. |
| The population of the city - originally 11 million - has also fluctuated over time. | The population of the city - originally 11 million - has also fluctuated over time. |
| The authorities said up to five million people had left the city for the lunar New Year holiday before it was locked down on 23 January. | The authorities said up to five million people had left the city for the lunar New Year holiday before it was locked down on 23 January. |
| The lockdown then lasted until 8 April, but it is unclear how many of these residents have now returned. | The lockdown then lasted until 8 April, but it is unclear how many of these residents have now returned. |
| Should everyone be tested? | Should everyone be tested? |
| Wuhan University's Yang Zhanqiu said there was no need to test everyone living in neighbourhoods with no reported cases. | Wuhan University's Yang Zhanqiu said there was no need to test everyone living in neighbourhoods with no reported cases. |
| The authorities have said they will begin with people considered most at risk - for example in the older, more densely populated areas, as well as those in key jobs such as healthcare. | The authorities have said they will begin with people considered most at risk - for example in the older, more densely populated areas, as well as those in key jobs such as healthcare. |
| Also, people who have been tested in the previous seven days will not need to be tested again. | Also, people who have been tested in the previous seven days will not need to be tested again. |
| But Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention chief epidemiologist Wu Zunyou told state TV: "The virus could take longer to manifest itself in patients with weak immunity and these people are also prone to 'on' and 'off' symptoms." | But Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention chief epidemiologist Wu Zunyou told state TV: "The virus could take longer to manifest itself in patients with weak immunity and these people are also prone to 'on' and 'off' symptoms." |
| Yang Zhanqiu adds: "You'll never know if people were infected after testing negative." | Yang Zhanqiu adds: "You'll never know if people were infected after testing negative." |
| And US-based Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for global health Huang Yanzhong said: “There would still be the possibility of isolated outbreaks in the future, which even large-scale testing will not address." | |
| Additional reporting and research by Yitsing Wang, in Beijing, and Pablo Uchoa and Wanyuan Song, in London. | Additional reporting and research by Yitsing Wang, in Beijing, and Pablo Uchoa and Wanyuan Song, in London. |
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