This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-52651651

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Coronavirus: Can China test all of Wuhan in only 10 days? Coronavirus: How China plans to test every person in Wuhan
(7 days later)
China is drawing up ambitious plans to test the entire population of Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began. China is undertaking an ambitious plan to test the entire population of Wuhan, the city where the Covid-19 pandemic began, following the emergence of a cluster of new infections.
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? What's the scale of the task?
In late April, the Hubei provincial government reported 63,000 people were being tested in Wuhan every day. Before this latest mass testing campaign began, there were about 60 centres across the city, with an overall maximum capacity of 100,000 tests a day, according to the official Hubei Daily newspaper.
And by 10 May, that figure had dropped to just under 40,000. So that testing capacity would have needed to be substantially increased to reach the entire population in just 10 days.
There are more than 60 testing centres across the city, according to the official Hubei Daily newspaper. Subsequent statements from the authorities have acknowledged the testing period will take longer, with different districts within the city carrying out testing over staggered 10-day periods.
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. "Each district finishes its tests within 10 days from the date it started them," the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control said.
So the authorities have indicated the tests will not all start and finish within the same 10-day period. It's not clear what the exact timetable is, but on 18 May, all 13 districts in the city were carrying out tests so the whole operation should be over by 28 May at the latest.
"Some districts [in the city] will start from 12 May, others from 17 May, for example," the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control said. And as of 20 May, the Wuhan Health Commission said more than 2.8m tests had been completed.
"Each district finishes its tests within 10 days from the date it started." Chinese state media has reported that some testing centres in Wuhan are now using a method called batch testing.
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. This means grouping individual test samples together so as to speed up the whole process.
What proportion have been tested already? They would only carry out individual tests if a positive result comes up in the batch.
The authorities say they have now tested more than three million people in the city. How many people will be 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 fluctuated in recent months.
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 returned.
One recent estimate by a leading Chinese science journal (Zhishi Fenzi) said that eight million people needed to be tested in Wuhan.
They arrived at that figure by excluding anyone who had been tested in the seven days prior to mass testing starting in their district, as well as all children under six years of age.
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.
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. And as we've seen, those tested recently won't 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." Wuhan University's Yang Zhanqiu said there was no need to test everyone living in neighbourhoods with no reported cases.
But he also warns: "You'll never know if people become 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."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.
Read more from Reality CheckRead more from Reality Check
Send us your questionsSend us your questions
Follow us on TwitterFollow us on Twitter