BEIJING -- The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) of China has asked local healthcare authorities to lower the price of conducting COVID-19 nucleic acid tests at public hospitals.

As of Thursday, authorities in 30 provincial-level regions including Guangdong and Hubei had decreased the price, mostly to 60 yuan (9.3 U.S. dollars) or lower per person for a single test, the NHSA said Friday.

Price for testing a group of 10 people was reduced to a maximum of 15 yuan per person.