Beijing Detains Covid Lab Staff It Blames for Worsening Outbreak

(Bloomberg) — Beijing police have detained 17 employees of a Covid-19 lab for failing to test samples properly, blaming the infractions for worsening the outbreak that’s enveloped China’s capital for a month.

Workers at the lab diluted samples to the point that infections may not be detectable, officials said at a briefing on Friday. This led to cases going undetected and spawned the risk of further spread, said Li Ang, an official with the Beijing Municipal Health Commission. The city will tighten supervision over labs, including daily inspections.