Shanghai records 260 new locally confirmed cases

Shanghai reported 260 new locally transmitted cases and 6,051 asymptomatic carriers on Friday, the municipal health commission said on Saturday.

"The rise in the number of new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections compared to the previous two days is because we have scaled up the testing of the virus," said Wu Qianyu, an official with the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, during a news conference on Saturday.

More than 14 million people living in the west of the Huangpu River completed nucleic acid testing on April 1, the first day of the phased lockdown in the area, said Wu.

"Shanghai is a city with a high proportion of senior population. In this current outbreak, attending to elders and people in need of special care is the top priority of our service and work," said Zeng Qun, the deputy head of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

Residential communities will constantly communicate with senior people, especially those living alone or unable to move freely, via telephone or WeChat, to understand their situation timely, to help them register for nucleic acid tests, and to assist in food and daily necessities.

Elderly people who need nursing care can contact communities or service organizations for help, and a special hotline for senior people is available around the clock, said Zeng.