Mass testing and lockdown preparations in Shanghai

The two-phase lockdown of Shanghai’s 26 million people entered its third day on Wednesday.It started with the Pudong financial district and adjacent areas on the east side of the Huangpu River that divides Shanghai.Some 9.1 million people in the areas have taken mass virus tests.

The measures confining the residents of Pudong to their homes, closing nonessential businesses and requiring mass testing are to be lifted on Friday after four days.At that time, the more populated Puxi area on the opposite side of the river will be sealed off for five days of mass testing.Residents of the area have been racing to stock up on food and essentials.Shanghai recorded 5,982 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. The omicron outbreak in Shanghai is one of a series across the country that is testing the government’s ability to enforce a strict “zero-COVID” strategy.