COVID steps bearing fruit as more locals taste freedom
Shanghai’s recent PCR plus antigen screening and other control measures are showing growing effects, with a rising number of residents now in precautionary areas and fewer still under lockdown, according to the city’s health commission.
A total of 192 COVID-19 infections were detected during at-risk people screenings between May 1 and 3, accounting for 1.07 percent of the total new infections, said Zhao Dandan, deputy director of the commission.
At-risk groups refer to people in controlled and precautionary areas, as well as those who voluntarily go to fever clinics and receive polymerase chain reaction tests.
If less than one positive case is found in every 100,000 residents among these groups for three consecutive days, the city will “have basically achieved the zero community transmission” goal, when residents can enjoy more freedom.
According to the results of the PCR plus antigen screening, a total of almost 15.8 million local residents, or some 63 percent of Shanghai’s total population, are in precautionary areas — communities, villages and businesses without a positive case in the last two weeks.
The number of residents in locked-down areas has fallen to 2.39 million, while 5.19 million people are in controlled areas, Zhao revealed.
Shanghai’s daily infection number declined by about 12 percent to a total of 4,982 on Tuesday.
It reported 16 more COVID19 deaths on Tuesday — four fewer than on Monday — with the casualties having an average age of 82.9 years. All had severe underlying
conditions, and none had been vaccinated.
Of COVID-19 patients in local designated and makeshift hospitals, 486 have severe symptoms and 95 are in critical condition.
A total of 11,442 COVID19 patients were discharged from hospitals on Tuesday after recovery.
Recovered COVID-19 patients must quarantine in their homes for a week after being discharged and take a PCR test on the seventh day.
Those testing positive will be transferred to designated or makeshift hospitals again for further quarantine, which won’t affect the “three-level” designation of the building and community they live in, Zhao pointed out.
Restored operations
Local factories, construction sites and businesses will step up their coronavirus prevention measures as an increasing number of companies have restored operations amid the positive pandemic trend.
These firms, construction sites and businesses must arrange closed-loop accommodation for their staff as well as conduct closed-door production management, Zhao said.
Meanwhile, 93 percent of Shanghai’s agricultural production has been restored, including over 98 percent of the city’s vegetable planting and cultivation, according to Ye Junping, deputy director of the city’s agricultural commission.
A large number of locally produced green vegetables, watermelons and sweet melons have hit the market.
The commission will arrange community group buying as well as cooperate with e-commerce platforms and local subdistricts and towns to sell the products to citizens, Ye said.