Shanghai imposes lockdown amid COVID resurgence
2022. 3. 29
Shanghai imposes lockdown amid COVID resurgence
On Sunday March 27, the city government announced that Shanghai will be locked down in two stages, over nine days, while authorities carry out nucleic acid testing. The important financial hub has battled a new wave of infections for nearly a month, although case numbers are not high by some international standards.
Authorities had so far refrained from locking down the city of more than 25 million people to avoid destabilizing the economy. But after Shanghai recorded its highest daily number of cases since the early days of the pandemic on Saturday, the authorities appear to have changed course.
The new lockdown will happen in two stages, with the Huangpu River, the city's most central river, as the boundary: with the eastern side of the city under restrictions from March 28 until April 1, and the western side from April 1 to 5. From 5 a.m. on Monday, a lockdown will first be imposed in Pudong, Punan and adjacent areas (including the Pudong New Area, Fengxian, Jinshan and Chongming districts, as well as Pujin Subdistrct and Pujiang Town in Minhang District and Xinbang, Shihudang, Maogang and Yexie towns in Songjiang District) to carry out nucleic acid testing. The lockdown there will be lifted at 5 a.m. on April 1.
In Puxi, the quarantine measures for the key subdistricts and towns will continue. Other areas in Puxi will be put under lockdown for nucleic acid testing from 3 a.m. on April 1 through 3 a.m. on April 5.
During the lockdown, all residential communities will be closed. All residents are required to stay at home. Meal delivery and courier services will remain in operation with non-contact delivery, to ensure basic life necessities. Delivery staff won’t be allowed to enter communities. Public transport will be suspended, only special vehicles, such as those for pandemic prevention or ambulances, will be allowed on local roads in locked-down areas. Compamies and factories not considered essential must halt operations or work remotely.
Sufficient supplies of food and necessities must be ensured along with stable prices during the lockdown, the authorities emphasized. Green channels will be opened for those with medical requirements, especially pregnant women or those who need for hemodialysis, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Residents are asked to follow the orders of their subdistricts, towns or companies in receiving nucleic acid tests during lockdown. Those failing to take the test will see their Shanghai QR Code turn yellow, restricting them from entering any sites and depriving them of a number of local services. Those who refuse or interfere with the anti-COVID measures shall bear legal liability.
