News Desk: Rising coronavirus cases have forced millions of people into near-complete lockdown in China’s largest city of Shanghai. City health officials on Sunday briefed media of 438 confirmed Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours, in which 7,788 cases are asymptomatic. Both figures were up from the previous day.
Though the rising numbers are quite small by the standards of a pandemic, the daily case numbers are high since the virus was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in late 2019.
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Shanghai forced its 26 million people under a two-stage lockdown since last week, but residents of the eastern Pudong were allowed to leave their homes on Friday, while their neighbours in the western Puxi section underwent in four-day isolation period.
Even after assurance from the administration, millions in Pudong continue to be confined to their homes amid complaints about food deliveries and the lower availability of medications and health services.
Notices are delivered by officials to the residents for daily self-test of COVID-19 and following precautions including wearing masks at home and mandatory isolation.
Sun Chunlan, one of the official from the ruling Communist Party’s, seems to be in favour of resolute and swift moves to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai in the shortest possible time,” as reported by news agency Xinhua.
However, he seems concerned with the “unswerving adherence” to China’s hardline “zero-COVID” approach and lockdowns, forced isolation of all suspected cases is a bit harsh and takes a toll on the country’s economy.
“She emphasized that it is an arduous challenge to check the spread of the omicron variant while maintaining the normal routine and operation of core functions in a megacity like Shanghai,” Sun said.
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She reiterated the fact that for safeguarding key industries and economy and the functioning of supply and industrial chains in the commercial hub, along with ensuring normal daily living conditions and medical needs.
