Shanghai Reports Increase In Symptomatic Covid Cases

Shanghai recorded 19,872 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases and 3,200 new symptomatic cases on Thursday, the local government said on Friday.

The number of asymptomatic cases was down from 25,146 a day earlier, while the number of symptomatic cases rose from 2,573.

Overall, the mainland reported 24,268 new cases on Thursday, of which 3,486 were symptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Friday. That compares with 29,411 new cases, including 3,020 symptomatic cases, a day earlier.

There were no new deaths, leaving the death toll unchanged at 4,638.

Electric car-maker Xpeng meanwhile said the industry may have to suspend production next month if suppliers in Shanghai and surrounding areas can't resume work,

The mainland’s dynamic zero-Covid interventions have had some knock-on effects on supply chains for goods ranging from electric vehicles to iPhones.

Xpeng chief executive officer He Xiaopeng said on his Wechat account: "If the suppliers in Shanghai and its surrounding areas can't find a way to resume operations and production, in May possibly all of China's carmakers will have to stop production."

An April 7 study by Gavekal Dragonomics found that 87 of China's 100 largest cities by gross domestic product have imposed some form of quarantine curbs.

Covid-19 curbs have also affected travel across the country, with carrier Air China reporting a 70% drop in March traffic from a year ago on Thursday. (Reuters)

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