New lab begins testing for virus

Many hospitals in the city have recently increased staff and put them on shifts to provide services 24 hours a day to handle the large number of virus samples so suspected patients can get confirmed and diagnosed as soon as possible, the city's health commission said.

Liu Juan, a deputy director of the residential committee of Weiqun community, in Wuhan, said due to the large number of patients, some suspected cases in the community cannot get timely nucleic acid tests, which can confirm whether a person is infected. This has delayed diagnoses and treatment for them, she said.