An environmental maintenance vehicle disinfects a street in the Tianshan district of Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Monday. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has completed nucleic acid tests for more than 1 million people as of Tuesday since it began a free mass test campaign across the city on July 18, city officials said during a virus control and prevention conference on Wednesday.

As of Tuesday, the citizens of Tianshan district, a downtown area in Urumqi where the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection was found, and over 340,000 people in Shaybak district have completed the test

Shang Yulan, deputy secretary-general Uygur govt

"As of Tuesday, the citizens of Tianshan district, a downtown area in Urumqi where the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection was found, and over 340,000 people in Shaybak district have completed the test," said Shang Yulan, deputy secretary-general of the city's government, adding that the remaining areas are ready and gradually starting testing.

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Shang said the regional government dispatched leaders at the regional and city levels to take charge of 24 testing organizations in the citywide campaign.

Urumqi reported nine locally transmitted COVID-19 infections and 14 asymptomatic cases on Tuesday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 62 and asymptomatic cases to 69 in the city since the outbreak of the virus on July 15.

Rui Baoling, head of the city's disease control and prevention center, said the center has implemented a mixed sampling method, which puts the samples from the upper respiratory tracts of five people into one sampling tube for the laboratory test.

"The method was taken in order to further improve the ability and efficiency of the test, and during the test, we will pay special attention to the registration of personal information," Rui said.

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Rui said if a positive result is found in the mixed sample, the center will quickly find the group of five people for resampling and screening.

Meanwhile, to ensure the smooth and orderly supply of daily needs, Urumqi has set up more than 2,000 temporary food and service centers for people who have had to stay at home.

"We will purchase whatever the residents need," said Adil Abduraxt, deputy director of a residential community in Tianshan district.