Shanghai Dismisses Lockdown Rumours

Authorities in Shanghai on Wednesday dismissed rumours that a lockdown would be imposed in the city, even as officials said anti-epidemic measures would be stepped up to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The city reported four symptomatic coronavirus infections and 977 asymptomatic cases in the past day, amid rumours that it would undergo a week-long lockdown similar to that imposed in Shenzhen last week.

Wu Jinglei of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission told a news conference that the city is facing a critical and complicated challenge in infection control.

He said that authorities in Shanghai had already carried out a series of coronavirus testing and would continue to do so in targeted areas and venues to suppress the spread of the virus as quickly as possible.

The official said the city would stick to a “dynamic zero” Covid policy in accordance with science.

“We hope people will not believe in rumours. There are legal consequences of spreading rumours and causing a panic in society,” Wu said.

The mainland is seeing an increase in Covid-19 infections, and Jilin province has been particularly hard-hit.

In total, the National Health Commission reported 2,591 symptomatic local cases on the mainland in the past day – compared with 2,281 the day before – with almost 90 percent of them recorded in Jilin.

Infections were also reported in other provinces, including Fujian and Liaoning.

The number of new asymptomatic cases, meanwhile, increased to 2,346 from 2,313.

The number of symptomatic infections reported in Guangdong province dropped to 15 from 25.

Shenzhen recorded 13 symptomatic infections – down from 23 the day before.