Shanghai keeps one step ahead of virus

On Nov 9, nucleic acid testing for the residents of Yingqian village started at 9 am and ended at midnight.

Chu Fuguo, a 60-year-old resident who acted as a volunteer during the lockdown, said, "Most people cooperated, even though we knocked on some doors late at night to make inquiries."

The villagers, who took the tests on the first, sixth and 13th days of the quarantine period, all returned negative results.

Ma said a contingency plan, which included setting up a temporary quarantine site and sending in designated ambulances, was drawn up in case anyone tested positive.

Despite no such results being reported, ambulances were still sent to the village a number of times during the 14 days. They took residents, who under the quarantine regulations could not go to hospitals by themselves, to medical institutions for various reasons, including the birth of a baby and treatment for accidental cuts.

On the second day of the lockdown, when a villager was due to give birth, Ma said he contacted the hospital in advance to ensure that pandemic prevention measures were in place. The expectant mother was admitted that evening and her baby was born the following day.

Yin Xiuping, a 51-year-old resident, said she and her family spent most of their time at home and complied with the request not to gather with neighbors.

"We have witnessed the great efforts made by government workers and healthcare professionals for the village and for ourselves, which included the provision of food once every two days. We, as individuals who care for this city, want to make our contribution to safeguard it," she said.