Shanghai: Chinese mainland reported 2,119 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, of which 1,931 were in Shanghai, according to the National Health Commission’s report Friday.
Restrictions are imposed on at least 44 cities as authorities try to curb the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Financial hub, Shanghai on Friday said it will only lift its lockdown in batches once virus transmission outside quarantined areas was stamped out to a satisfactory number. As the casualties surged authorities announced fresh rounds of city-wide testing on Friday.
In a question and answer posted on its official WeChat account, the Shanghai government said the city’s epidemic was showing a “positive trend” and that life in the city could return to normal soon as long as the policy was adhered to.
In a separate statement issued late on Thursday, it announced a new round of “nine major” actions, that would include more COVID testing for all its residents from Friday.