The announcement by CEO Carrie Lam on Saturday came as the southern Chinese city struggles to contain a fifth wave of infections that has led to mixed messages about trials and lockdowns. Lam said a “mandatory, universal test” for the entire population was still needed, but did not say when this might happen. Authorities withdrew the idea after an earlier announcement caused panic in the markets. The prospect of further school closures and other disruptions has been caught between calls for easing restrictions and Beijing’s demand for an extreme “zero COVID” approach that requires lockdowns and mass trials.
The wave is decreasing
Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region, lifted a ban on residents returning to flights from nine countries where COVID-19 cases have risen, including Britain and the United States, on Friday.
Hong Kong reported another 5,820 cases on Friday as the latest increase began to decline.
Patients walk along the COVID-19 isolation facility in Hong Kong’s San Tin district last month. (Kin Cheung / The Associated Press)
In northern Shanghai, meanwhile, authorities are struggling to meet lockdown requirements for many of the city’s 26 million residents – the largest such venture by China since the virus was first detected in central Wuhan in end of 2019.
Shanghai is implementing a two-stage, eight-day lockdown, but many of those on the east, or Pudong, side of the city that should have been free to leave on Friday, have remained isolated.
Authorities have isolated the other half of the city, Puxi, with non-core businesses and public transportation halted and roads cleared of cars and people. A total of 14 million Puxi residents were tested on Friday, according to state media.
Isolation centers are brought under pressure
Isolated residents complained of difficulty obtaining food, household items and medicine, while beds and staff in isolation centers were insufficient for the number of asymptomatic patients and others being transported there for follow-up.
China identified 2,086 confirmed cases on Saturday, including 260 in Shanghai and 7,789 asymptomatic cases, of which 6,051 were in Shanghai. The total number of new cases has been close to record highs for several days, but no new deaths have been reported since March 20, leaving China as a whole at 4,638. China has recorded a total of 153,232 cases, according to the National Health Commission.
A worker wearing protective equipment sprays disinfectant over colleagues at the entrance to a neighborhood in Jing’an District during the second stage of the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai on Saturday. (Hector Retamal / AFP / Getty Images)
“Compared to Wuhan in 2020, Shanghai has benefited from China’s experience and is better prepared, although the outbreak is larger,” said Chen Erzen, commander of the third team of medical teams sent to the city. official Xinhua. Daily newspaper.
This is because the Omicron BA.2 subtype is more contagious though less contagious, leading to a large number of asymptomatic cases, which China has categorized separately from the “confirmed” cases.
“There is more pressure because more patients are increasing the task of controlling the epidemic,” Chen said. “But for now, the situation in Shanghai is under control and we will continue to heal and isolate ourselves as needed.”
