Nucleic acid testing centers told to deliver results faster

The National Health Commission said on Tuesday that nucleic acid testing institutions should provide services around the clock and strive to return testing results within 6 hours.

The commission said the capacity of testing equipment should be fully tapped with the prerequisite of ensuring accuracy.

Testing centers are required to further reduce the time it takes to give results and promptly send them to the public in the digital format.

They are also encouraged to use rapid testing kits based on local situation to cut down on waiting hours.

Provincial capitals, metropolitans, cities near ports or popular tourist attractions should further expand nucleic acid testing services and enable the public to access tests conveniently, according to the commission.

The commission said recent emergence of local outbreaks and sporadic infections have revealed that some regions did not arrange local testing facilities in an orderly manner, and had failed to provide convenient and swift testing services.

China reported 28 new local cases on Monday as the country experiences a new wave of domestic outbreaks affecting 11 provincial-level regions.