Coronavirus: Shanghai reports 58 new cases in unguarded, low-risk zones in setback for city’s ‘societal zero-Covid’ push

New cases declined for the ninth straight day, dropping 6.8 per cent to 7,333 in the previous 24 hours, according to official data released on Monday. Symptomatic cases fell 7.7 per cent to 727, while the death toll decreased by 16 per cent to 32 from a day earlier.

The improving outlook was sullied by 58 new infections found in so-called “precautionary zones” – classified as unguarded areas without a single case in the past 14 days. It galvanised local authorities to tighten their controls again, curbing even the limited movements by residents in those zones.

Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan, who has been overseeing the anti-pandemic work in Shanghai since April 2, instructed local officials to double down on lockdown controls to identify and quarantine every single case, even though the overall outbreak is showing signs of abating. Cumulative infections in Shanghai rose to 577,000 since March 1.

“Shanghai’s battle against the virus is still at a critical stage, so no let-up is acceptable because it could cause a resurgence,” she said during a Sunday meeting with local authorities, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency. “Strengthened efforts must be made to chase the zero-Covid goal.”