Chinese Checkers: Mass COVID Testing, Strict Lockdown Ordered In Shanghai

Shanghai: Increasingly worried over new subvariants being detected, China is taking no chances against COVID-19.

Shanghai, China’s largest city, on Friday ordered mass testing on all 1.3 million residents of downtown Yangpu district, reported AP.

Not just that, everyone has been told to remain within their homes until results are known.

Strict measures have been announced across the country, from Shanghai in the east to Tibet to the west, where anti-lockdown protests have been reported recently.

Wuhan has ordered lockdown of 900,000 people for at least five days, while in Qinghai province, urban districts of Xining city have been under lockdown for a week.

Universal Studios has closed its hotels and attractions in Beijing to comply with pandemic prevention and control.

Two highly-contagious subvariants of Omicron — BF.7 and BA.5.1.7 – have been recently detected in the country. BA.5.1.7 has been found in Guangdong province, and BF.7 in Shaoguan and Yantai cities.

Health officials have said that these subvariants are spreading to more regions at a fast speed.

China has continued to follow a hardline ‘zero-COVID’ policy even after the ruling Communist Party’s congress decided to give President Xi Jinping a third five-year term.

Shanghai had ordered a two-month lockdown of the entire city of 25 million during summer months, leading to a breakdown of local economy which resulted in food shortages and confrontations between residents and authorities.