Shanghai tightens lockdown as Covid cases swell

Amid rapidly increasing Covid-19 cases, Chinese authorities have imposed the strictest lockdown measures in China's financial hub of Shanghai since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. The government tightened the first phase of a two-stage Covid-19 lockdown, asking residents to stay indoors unless they are getting tested.

Amid rapidly increasing Covid-19 cases, Chinese authorities have imposed strictest lockdown measures in China's financial hub of Shanghai. Credit: Reuters Photo

Shanghai authorities appealed to residents to keep cooperating with tight curbs imposed to stop Covid-19 from spreading, saying they recognised their frustrations. China's most populous city entered the fourth day of a two-stage lockdown. Credit: Reuters Photo

The plea for patience came as Shanghai, home to 26 million people, said its overall daily Covid caseload eased for the first time in about two weeks, in an outbreak of the highly contagious Omicron variant that began about a month ago. Credit: Reuters Photo

It reported 5,298 locally transmitted new asymptomatic cases and 355 symptomatic cases for Wednesday (March 30), compared to 5,656 local asymptomatic cases and 326 new cases with symptoms reported a day prior. Credit: Reuters Photo

Shanghai accounted for almost 80% of local asymptomatic cases reported across the country on March 30, and about 20% of those with symptoms. Credit: Reuters Photo

Shanghai is being locked down by splitting the city into two, roughly along the Huangpu River, dividing the historic centre west of the river from the eastern financial and industrial district of Pudong. Authorities say this allows for staggered mass testing. Credit: AFP Photo

Despite the irritation among some in Shanghai, who question its practicality, the

In Shanghai, the city government said it would try its best to prevent the pandemic from spreading further. Credit: Reuters Photo

A resident receives a water can from a delivery man, in Shanghai. Credit: Reuters Photo