China to test 11 million residents of Wuhan after small outbreak according to state media

State media says every resident of Wuhan will now be tested for coronavirus in a “10 day battle” after a new cluster of cases was detected.

The Chinese city of Wuhan will test all 11 million residents for coronavirus after a small cluster of cases emerged over the weekend, according to state media.

Six new cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed in the city and a report from a state run media outlet The Paper has claimed authorities will now test all of the city’s 11 million residents within 10 days.

The report refers to the plan as a “10 day battle”, with each district responsible for testing its local residents.

The report states six new cases of COVID-19 were detected in the Dongxihu neighbourhood at the weekend. These cases broke a record of “35 consecutive days of no new confirmed cases”.

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province with a population of more than 11 million people, is where the first known cases of COVID-19 were detected and was previously the epicentre of coronavirus.

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Security stand outside a residential compound where five new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus were found in Wuhan. Picture: Hector Retamal/AFP

A large number of residents in the city have already been tested for COVID-19 after the outbreak led to more than 67,000 cases of the virus in the city and 3212 deaths.

The new cluster has led to global concern of hidden cases of coronavirus in a community, which could lead to surges of new outbreaks triggering a second wave of infection.

One of the new cases was a man, 89, who was tested for the virus on Sunday last week after reporting feeling unwell.

Five further cases were reported on Monday, including the man’s wife, 81, and four others who live in the man’s neighbourhood, according to The New York Times.

The five cases who were diagnosed apart from the 89-year-old were all asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19.

Wuhan imposed a draconian lockdown on its citizens following the outbreak of coronavirus which lasted from January 23 and was only eased on April 8.

The harsh restrictions were recognised by the World Health Organisation as a commitment by the country to attempt to contain the coronavirus.