Zero-COVID strategy falters: Cases reappear in Shanghai Quarantine Facilities; Beijing tests millions during holiday

China reported 7,741 new local cases and 32 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 454.

Shanghai had 7,333 cases (95 percent of all cases), with 727 symptomatic cases.

On a day when few people were celebrating May Day, authorities in Shanghai reported 58 new COVID-19 cases outside of restricted locations.

After a month of being cooped up inside, some inhabitants of Shanghai's 25 million people have finally had enough.

Relieved that no new cases had been identified outside the two-day lockdown zones, Shanghai residents were disappointed to learn of the 58 new infections on Monday morning.

Authorities did not remark on the new cases during a media conference, but citizens did so on social media.

On the social media platform Weibo, one user commented, "They announced they were stamping out incidents at the community level far too fast."

The data showed favorable tendencies, such as 32 new deaths on Sunday versus 38 the day before, and 6,804 new local cases versus 7,189 the day before, encouraging patterns for many people.

"May has hope," another user said.

The government's production priority list companies' employees might request for a pass if their building had no cases for seven days, officials said Monday.

Authorities utilized travel bans and lockdowns to suppress breakouts for two years in Wuhan, China.

With President Xi Jinping poised to win a record-breaking third term in the autumn, the fast spreading Omicron variety has put China's zero-COVID policy to the test this year.

Globally, many governments have eased or repealed COVID regulations to "live with COVID" as illnesses increase.

This is the first time since the pandemic began that New Zealand's borders have been opened to thousands of visitors from around the globe. see more

While China's economy is suffering and global supply lines are disrupted, the country's strategy remains unchanged.

It is one of the busiest tourism seasons in the capital, with 22 million residents.

To discover and isolate illnesses, Beijing is using mass testing to locate and isolate infections.

Beijing's restaurants and apartment towers are closed for business. Visitors must pass a coronavirus test to visit most public areas.

Affected individuals' close contacts are being notified to stay home and call 911.

A day after reporting 8,329 new cases, the National Health Commission reported 7,822 new COVID-19 cases.

To date, the virus has claimed 5,092 lives in China.

Shanghai dispatches 160,000 personnel to disinfect 13,000 residential compounds

Shanghai is cleaning and disinfecting 13,000 residential compounds to help eliminate COVID-19 instances at the community level, officials said on Monday. Nearly 1 million delivery packages are cleaned daily.

Cleaning and disinfection are among the 10 main responsibilities of the anti-epidemic campaign in Shanghai, according to deputy mayor Liu Duo. More than 6,000 people are now engaged on citywide disinfection.

Cleaning up residential compounds, especially those occupied by patients, public spaces like construction sites, office buildings, supermarkets and shopping malls, as well as schools is the authorities' priority. Every day, 160,000 individuals disinfect 140 million square meters and 13,000 residential units.

On Sunday, hospitals released 4,242 symptomatic patients and 29,468 asymptomatic patients. According to local media sources, reproduction has decreased from 2.27 to 0.67, and nearly two-thirds of infections have healed and left hospitals.

China EximBank Issues Bonds to Aid Shanghai Anti-Epidemic Efforts

The Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank), a state-owned policy bank, has issued special bonds totaling CNY5 billion (USD755.55 million) to support anti-epidemic efforts and ensure daily supplies in Shanghai.

According to the bank, the interest rate on the one-year bonds was 1.74 percent, and the funds raised will be used to support pandemic control and supply chain production for Shanghai enterprises.

Since the outbreak of infections, China EximBank has provided a total of CNY19.4 billion in loans to Shanghai businesses.