Nanjing’s third round of nucleic-acid testing for the entire populace got underway this morning, and with a marked difference in efficiency, after much criticism of the first two rounds for a lack in basic epidemic prevention practice.
There were a further 18 positive cases of COVID recorded in Nanjing yesterday, two of them severe, taking the total since 20 July to 171, reported The Paper. Compared to 47 the day before, this is good news.
“Please ensure you wear a mask, have your health code at the ready, keep a safe distance and be prepared to register with your ID card.” This was the recorded announcement blaring from a tree-bound megaphone on repeat. All morning.
It was joined by a small army of volunteers, many of them young, checking health codes and making sure people stuck to the rules.
On the paths snaking the compound leading to the testing point, yellow social-distancing lines had been laid at intervals of up to 5 metres. Playing it safe.
None of this was present before.
Much of the criticism levelled at the first two rounds of testing was actually directed at the populace itself. At many of the testing points, there was a complete lack of social distancing and numerous people, especially the elderly, were maskless. “You are literally killing each other”, was a popular online refrain.
Before today’s tests began, the online chatter was already seeking to avoid a repeat of last week. And words were not minced; “Make sure the old people behave” said a face-mask activist.
Everyone appears to have been listening. The result was an impressive level of professionalism and conscientiousness on display in Jiangning District today.
If this can be replicated as the rest of Nanjing get their third test, those new COVID case numbers will soon be in the single digits. Victory is within grasp.
