Shanghai rolls out enhanced measures to stamp out COVID-19 transmission

Shanghai has implemented a slew of enhanced measures related to matters such as community prevention and control, patient transport, and disinfection to achieve zero community transmissions as quickly as possible, local authorities said on Friday.

According to Wu Qianyu, an official from the Shanghai Health Commission, the city will tighten prevention and control in communities and reduce human mobility. People living in lockdown zones are not allowed to leave their homes, while those in controlled zones are prohibited from leaving their compounds. The retrieval of mail and packages should also be staggered for those living in controlled zones.

Another round of mass testing will be implemented in the city as well. Residents in lockdown zones are required to take nucleic acid tests once every day. Residents in controlled zones must take three antigen tests and two nucleic acid tests over the five days. People living in precautionary zones will take four antigen tests and one nucleic acid test.

Further strategies in line with the dynamic zero-COVID policy will include enhancing epidemiologic investigation, patient transport, traditional Chinese medicine in treatment, citywide disinfection, and preventing the spread of the virus to other cities, Wu said.

The city reported 1,931 new locally COVID-19 transmitted confirmed cases and 15,698 asymptomatic infections on Thursday.

As of Thursday, there were 160 patients in severe condition and 24 critically ill patients receiving medical treatment in Shanghai. Eleven deaths were reported as well on Thursday.

A total of 27,988 patients were discharged from hospitals or released from medical observation on Thursday.