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Agencies:

Chinese city tests 11 million residents after COVID-19 cluster detected

New Delhi
October 17, 2020

The Chinese city of Qingdao completed testing all its 11 million residents after a COVID-19 cluster was detected in a hospital.

The mass testing was carried out after fresh COVID-19 cases, over dozen were reported in the city. The recent surge of Coronavirus cases was linked to the Qingdao Chest Hospital, which was treating COVID-19 patients, due to inappropriate disinfection in the CT room in there.

Xue Qingguo, Qingdao's Deputy Mayor on Friday said that over 10.16 million of the collected samples had been tested and results showed no new positive cases, news reported.

A citywide nucleic acid testing covering all its 11 million residents starting Monday, after the emergence of a new COVID-19 cluster, was completed on Friday, Qingdao's Deputy Mayor said.

Ma Lixin, the Deputy party Chief of the provincial health commission, earlier in the day said that improper disinfection in the CT room at the Qingdao Chest Hospital has led to the new cluster of COVID-19 infections in the city.

'No community transmission'

The possibility that the new cluster infections were caused by cross infection in the community was ruled out, Ma Lixinwas quoted as saying by the state run Xinhua news agency reported. He said no community transmission has occurred.

The Qingdao cluster has created nationwide concern as thousands visited the tourist city during the recent National Day holidays.

Beijing officials announced strict management of international arrivals to the capital, including three tests to be conducted before departure at Chinese customs and after finishing a quarantine period.