(CFP Photo)

To contain the spread of COVID-19, Nanjing has improved speed and efficiency in collecting samples and carrying out nucleic acid testing. The city began a fifth round of testing in some areas on the morning of August 5, which involved over 3 million people.

At 7:30 am, Shen Hai, a community worker in Gulou District, arrived at sample collection site to make preparations. Since the city’s third round of testing, he has helped escort the transportation of samples collected, a task that required him to wear protective clothing, face masks, gloves and shoe covers.

The city’s regulation is that samples taken from residents should be transported to a transfer station within two hours. The tubes will first be put in a refrigerated container, then covered by an ice pack, pasted with the QR code, before being transported by a designated electric vehicle to the transfer station. Shen has sent more than 25,000 samples till now.

Since the third round of nucleic acid testing, the city has built a 3-tier network of 2,747 sample collection sites, 107 transfer stations, and 25 testing facilities. At the transit sites, the containers are handed over to medical refrigerated trucks and delivered to testing facilities.

All containers are also fitted with GPS system and a temperature control system. All samples need to start testing within 6 hours of their collection.