Mass testing underway in Urumqi as virus flares

On Saturday, the National Health Commission organized 10 teams consisting of 200 medical workers from 10 provincial-level regions to boost the testing capacity in Urumqi.

That includes a 21-member medical team from Wuhan, Hubei province, the hardest-hit region in China where the disease has been stamped out. The team also shipped over 100 items of testing equipment and medical supplies to Urumqi.

Zhang added that as of 8 am Sunday, all residents being quarantined had received tests.

Upon discovering the flare-up of the virus, Urumqi has taken swift action to track down close contacts, halt public gatherings, reduce public transportation and curtail flights in and out of the city, according to the local government.

Access to residential communities has been strictly limited and local residents are urged not to leave the city unless for essential reasons and must undergo tests before departure.