A medical staff member collects a swab sample from a resident for COVID-19 test at the Pidu District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Pidu District of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 10, 2020. (Photo: Xinhua)

Southwest China's Chengdu launched a nucleic acid testing drive Friday, offering free tests to all residents in the city's Pidu District, where several new COVID-19 cases have emerged since earlier this week.

The district's COVID-19 prevention and control headquarters said the drive started at 6 p.m., with testing expenses covered by the district government.