Virus testing must not be compromised

Only with strict nucleic acid testing of all those in high-and medium-risk areas can those infected with the novel coronavirus be identified as early as possible.

But what if some are audacious enough to try and cover up the test results?

According to reports a company that was entrusted to conduct the nucleic acid testing of 314,987 local residents in Longyao county in Hebei province reported that all the test samples were negative on Jan 14, but two days later it reported that 10 residents had tested positive. After the 10 were tested again, three residents were found to be infected with the virus.

There is no telling why the company delayed reporting the positive tests until two days later. But it does constitute a cover-up and could result in serious consequences. In the two days, the three people might have passed the virus onto those they had contact with.

Now the representative from the company who was in charge of the testing has been detained.

Since new cases continue to be detected in North China's Hebei province, Northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces as well as Beijing, a second, third or even fourth round of nucleic acid tests are to be carried out in high-risk and medium-risk areas.

Repeatedly conducting tests is meant to make sure that all those who are infected can be detected as early as possible and placed under medical quarantine. Only in this way will it be possible to cut the transmission chains of the virus.

Covering up test results or even delays in reporting the results will also damage the credibility of a local government in charge of the fight against the pandemic.

As such, nucleic acid testing must be strictly conducted and any cover-up of the results that may compromise the effectiveness of control and prevention work must be investigated and those responsible brought to justice according to the law.

It has been reported that the company concerned, which is based in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, was penalized for violating the rules concerning the disposal of toxic medical waste in 2019. It is reasonable to ask why it was entrusted with the task of conducting nucleic acid tests.

It should be a lesson for all government departments at all levels that due diligence must be done to ensure the credibility of a company before it is assigned such a key task as nucleic acid testing. Even after the task is assigned to a company, something needs to be done to make sure the company is accountable for what it does if it is not done the way that is required.