On Saturday, a state-sponsored Beijing News house reported, nucleic acid tests are being performed by the Beijing officials on all parcel and food delivery staff, as they build up efforts and develop effective ways to combat the spread of the deadly pandemic in the capital of China.

About a week back, a bunch of new infection broke out which was connected to a food wholesale market, following which the officials started rapid testing throughout the city of Beijing, that has a population of around 20 million. The outbreak, has crossed the earlier number of infections which was the highest in the initial months of February.

Residential areas near the crowded Xinfadi market including the sellers and buyers who visited the market recently, were tested initially for the virus.

Thousands of delivery staff who move across the city are under the focus of the officials. The areas where people can regularly witness groups of scooters and electric motor pedicabs, driven by delivery personnel carrying parcels and food are also targeted by the authorities.

According to Beijing News, on Friday evening, the second largest Chinese courier firm, SF Express workers reached the testing points in Beijing.

On Friday, food delivery company Meituan Dianping said, that it is mandatory for all the riders working in Beijing to get tested. The delivery personnel who travelled to areas under high risk would be withdrawn from the duty for a short period, will have to get nucleic acid tests done and be home quarantined for 14 days.

On its Wechat account, Meituan mentioned, customers will be able to check out the complete information on the delivery package sanitization online including the rider's body temperature.

All the couriers or delivery personnel will be tested in the coming weeks, confirmed Beijing News.

The risk of infection involved in the packaging and delivery of items in Beijing is expected to be high as the city reported 22 active cases on Friday, the officials said. Since June 11, the city has reported more than 200 infections that have spread locally.

The virus was found on chopping boards at Xinfadi market which used to deal with salmon, following which various catering personnel, restaurant staff and people handling imported food are continuously being tested by the officials.