The city of Harbin in China's northernmost Heilongjiang province will undergo three rounds of nucleic acid tests starting at 8 am on March 16, in order to screen potential COVID-19 carriers.
 
The program was announced by the city's COVID-19 prevention and control work authority on March 15.
 
Under the plan, all people in the jurisdiction of Harbin city must receive nucleic acid tests.
 
They must show their ID cards or other identification documents, as well as their health codes, before receiving sample collection at the appointed sites.
 
To avoid major gatherings, people are not allowed to go to nucleic acid sites for testing without due notice.
 
While waiting for the test results, people are requested to stay at home and not to go out, attend social gatherings or have group meals unless it is deemed to be absolutely necessary.