Wuhan completes collections for epidemiological survey
China Daily
1587129359000

A worker in a protective suit collects a swab from a construction worker for nucleic acid test in Wuhan, Hubei province, on April 7, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

Wuhan has finished collecting samples for a epidemiological survey of 11,000 residents in 100 communities of the city's 13 districts as of Thursday, and a preliminary report will be formed next Wednesday, according to the local newspaper Changjiang Daily.

Started on April 11, the survey has enrolled a team of more than 100 professionals and 1,000 personnel to do research on participants, which includes residents and virus control workers in the city.

The epidemiological survey of the novel coronavirus was launched in nine provincial-level regions, including Hubei and its capital Wuhan, to probe the scale of asymptomatic infections.

Wuhan has also conducted a large scale nucleic acid test, which detected 182 asymptomatic infections through 275,400 tests, for a proportion of 6.6 in 10,000.

The tests, which started on April 8, targeted key segments of the population, including people returning to work and migrant workers leaving Wuhan.

An official of the city's health commission said 53 testing institutions and 211 stations collecting samples can generate a testing capacity of 40,000 per day.

The city was asked to report asymptomatic infections on the epidemic information network in two hours, with results in 12 hours and finishing the survey in 24 hours.

Several hospitals in Wuhan have launched inspection programs to provide on-the-spot service for employees returning to their positions.

The inspections include nucleic acid tests, antibody detection, and chest CT scans.