Shanghai clarifies epidemic control plans amid new outbreak

Shanghai has not introduced a local lockdown and it isn't necessary to apply such means presently, said Gu Honghui, deputy secretary of the municipal government, at a briefing on Tuesday.

Gu made the remarks when speaking of measures implemented to control the current COVID-19 outbreak.

The city reported 105 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, 101 of whom were asymptomatic. According to the municipal health authorities, 69 of the individuals tested positive during quarantine, while the rest were identified during testing of people with potential exposure to the virus.

In addition, the cultural center of a neighborhood in the Shiquan sub-district of Putuo district has been reclassified as a low-risk area.

As of 3 pm Tuesday, the current COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai has resulted in 955 new locally transmitted infections, 861 of whom were asymptomatic. A total of 13,105 close contacts and 37,619 secondary close contacts of the locally transmitted patients had been identified and put in quarantine.

"We adhere to preventing and controlling of the COVID-19 proactively, precisely, scientifically and comprehensively, and strive to minimize the impact of the pandemic on the normal life of citizens," Gu said.

According to Gu, the current wave of COVID-19 in the city is driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Crowded spaces including markets, hospitals and schools, as well as asymptomatic cases which account for 90 percent of the infections so far have taken center stage in discussions.

"The city will guarantee services for individuals in quarantine and strengthen care for the elderly, children, the pregnant and patients with serious diseases," he said.

Gu said tightened prevention measures have been carried out in the city, covering exit and entry requirements and testing of individuals from high-risk areas.

He suggested companies in low-risk areas allow their employees to stagger work schedules, commute at off-peak hours and work from home if possible, which will "help the city to achieve the goal of 'dynamic clearing' on the way back to normal life", which means stopping the forward transmission of the virus and preventing future cases in each wave while infections occur.