September 26, 2022 | 1:14 pmBEIJING — A thousand days since the World Health Organization was told of a “viral pneumonia” in central China, many countries have returned to pre-COVID-19 life. Not so China itself — in cities big or small, routine PCR testing is the new normal.
After Shanghai was locked down in April and May to contain the highly transmissible Omicron strain, regular testing for the virus has become a fact of everyday life to ensure fast detection and quarantine of the infected and close contacts. It’s a policy that has been controversial and also a drain on public finances.
Testing booths, typically container-like structures erected in the middle of a pavement, are staffed by a few health workers in hazmat suits ready to take quick throat swabs. Some booths operate 24 hours a day.