Lockdown Lifted, but Exodus From Chinese City Hindered by New Coronavirus Test Rule

Children and women wearing face masks are seen in Xianning, after the lockdown was eased in Hubei Province, the epicenter of China's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, on March 26, 2020. Aly Song/Reuters

XIANNING, China—Residents of China’s Xianning city eager to travel after a two-month lockdown faced an unexpected hurdle only hours after the borders were opened—they needed to pass a new rapid detection test to show they didn’t have the coronavirus.

Dozens rushed to the city’s largest hospital but were told the hospital was no longer doing the nucleic acid tests and were advised to try hospitals in nearby villages or towns.