Fourth wave scare, China puts 26 million people under lockdown after surge in Covid-19 cases

China has decided to put its largest city of Shanghai, which has a population of over 26 million, under lockdown due to record Covid-19 cases.

China has so far reported more than 56,000 coronavirus infections in March (File photo: Reuters)

New Delhi: Amid concerns about a possible fourth wave of Covid-19 hitting India, China has decided to put its largest city of Shanghai, which has a population of over 26 million, under lockdown due to record coronavirus cases. 

A record 3,450 asymptomatic Covid-19 infections were reported in Shanghai on Sunday, accounting for nearly 70% of the nationwide total, along with 50 symptomatic cases, the city government said on Monday.

The snap lockdown, announced by Shanghai`s city government on Sunday, will split the city in two roughly along the Huangpu River for nine days to allow for staggered testing. Shanghai's Pudong financial district and nearby areas will be locked down from early Monday (March 28) to Friday as citywide mass testing gets underway, the local government has said.

In the second phase of the lockdown, the vast downtown area west of the Huangpu River that divides the city will then start its own five-day lockdown on Friday.

Shanghai`s Public Security Bureau said it was closing cross-river bridges and tunnels, and highway tollbooths concentrated in the city`s eastern districts through April 1. Areas to the west of the Huangpu River will have similar restrictions imposed between April 1-5.

The city government said on Sunday that it would also suspend public transport, including ride-hailing services, in locked down areas. It has also ordered the suspension of work at firms and factories, with the exception of those offering public services or supplying food.

Residents to stay home

Residents will be required to stay home and deliveries will be left at checkpoints to ensure there is no contact with the outside world. Offices and all businesses not considered essential will be closed and public transport suspended.

Many communities within Shanghai have already been locked down, with their residents required to submit to multiple tests for Covid-19. Shanghai's Disney theme park is among the businesses that have been closed earlier.

Over 56,000 coronavirus cases in China in March

China has so far reported more than 56,000 coronavirus infections this month, with a surging outbreak in the northeastern province of Jilin accounting for most of them.

But in response to China's biggest outbreak since the pandemic broke out two years ago, Beijing has continued to enforce what it calls the 'dynamic zero-Covid' approach. The strategy focuses on eradicating community transmission of the virus as quickly as possible, sometimes by locking down entire cities.

Meanwhile, China's vaccination rate stands at around 87 per cent and is considerably lower among older people. National data released earlier this month showed that over 52 million people aged 60 and older have yet to be vaccinated with any Covid-19 vaccine. Booster rates are also low, with only 56.4 per cent of people between 60-69 having received a booster shot, and 48.4 per cent of people between 70-79 having received one.

(With agency inputs)