(Yicai Global) Jan. 22 -- Shanghai’s current one-day maximum nucleic acid testing capacity of 728,000 samples will satisfy the demand of those planning to return to their hometowns over the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, the eastern megacity’s health commission said yesterday.

The Chinese financial hub home to over 28 million residents has 126 sites for nucleic acid tests, Wu Jinglei, director of the city’s Municipal Health Commission also noted at a press briefing yesterday. China’s New Year holiday is just around the corner, and demand for nucleic acid tests for Covid-19 is correspondingly growing.

The Chinese government recently appealed for people to stay where they normally live and work as much as possible during Spring Festival holiday to lessen chances of infection as workers from outside travel back to their hometowns to spend holidays with family, often the only opportunity they get to do so in an entire year.

Shanghai is also urging residents to stay put during the seven-day break unless absolutely necessary, Wu also added.

Mass Migration

“Residents from the high- and medium-risk regions should suspend travel or return to Shanghai and agencies must also implement measures for classified health management targeting travelers and returnees per the risk levels of the areas of their departure and those they pass through,” Wu noted.

The Chinese New Year is the country’s most important traditional festival , as well as the world’s largest annual human migration, which tallies billions of trips every year. Those who work away from their hometowns usually return, thus making Chinese New Year the peak season for the country’s public transport systems. About 75.1 million migrants traveled between provinces in 2019. Last year’s volume is projected at about 70 million in a slight drop from the year before, government statistics show.

More frequent human intercourse will also heighten the risk of Covid-19 infection as the pandemic has thus far not come under complete control. This year’s Chinese New Year runs from Feb. 12 -- the first day of 2021 in China’s Lunar Calendar, though the vacation starts on Feb. 11 and runs to Feb. 17.

Shanghai reported three local confirmed coronavirus cases yesterday and the city government has now designated a residential community in Huangpu district, which is right in the city center, as a medium-level risk zone.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Ben Armour, Xiao Yi