Shanghai reports more deaths amid falling Covid cases
BEIJING: Shanghai’s grim battle with the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak continued with seven more infection-related deaths and nearly 19,000 new cases reported in the Chinese financial hub on Wednesday for the day before.
Shanghai reported 2,494 locally transmitted symptomatic Covid-19 cases and 16,407 local asymptomatic carriers for Tuesday, the municipal health commission said on Wednesday. Overall, China reported 17,066 asymptomatic Covid-19 cases and 2,753 symptomatic local cases.
With the number of new Covid-19 cases falling, a city official said on Wednesday that Shanghai, a city of some 25 million residents, has brought virus transmission outside quarantined areas down to zero in two city districts and the city’s Covid-19 outbreak is seeing a downward trend. Number of residents staying in the city’s highest-risk “sealed areas”, who are completely locked down, has reduced significantly, official Wu Qianyu said.
The new deaths - reported after weeks of the Covid-19 flare-up - however, mean that measures to control the spread will continue to be stringent.
At least 17 Shanghai residents have died of Covid-19 in the last three days.
Canada: Mask mandate for public transport
Canada on Tuesday said it will be keeping the mask mandate in place for public transportation, including airplanes, for the forseeable future, despite a similar rule being dropped in the US.
Norway offers 4th shot to people over 80
Norwegian health authorities said on Wednesday they are open to giving people aged 80 and above a booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, but see no cause for a general recommendation for that age category to get a fourth shot.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Queen Mathilde tested positive for Covid-19 over the weekend, the Royal Palace said on Wednesday.
“The Queen is feeling well and is following her doctor’s recommendations,” it said.