7.69 million tested in Beijing for COVID-19

Beijing has conducted nucleic acid testing for 7.69 million people, with more than 8.3 million samples collected by Sunday since the city reported the first local COVID-19 case in the new infection cluster on June 11, according to a senior official on Sunday.

Zhang Qiang, a member of the city's Epidemic-Control Office, said at a press conference that the city has tested almost all the people who should receive the test, which includes people who have been to Xinfadi wholesale market, where all the cases are related, and those who have had contact with people who have been there.

Beijing has been increasing its testing capacity since the epidemic started in January.

The number of hospitals and medical institutions able to conduct tests in the city has increased from 75 to 144, according to Zhang. The city's daily testing ability has increased from 40,000 on June 11 to 458,000 at present.

More than 107,000 students and teachers in colleges in Beijing have taken the tests by now, he said.

Beijing reported 14 new local COVID-19 patients on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed patients to 311 since the first new local case was reported on June 11.