COVID-19 Decline in Beijing and Shanghai Following China's 'Zero COVID' Policy

A resident in a locked-down residential area in Shanghai, China, is looking outside through a metal barricade with a child. Chinese authorities have been locking down Shanghai for six weeks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The number of new COVID-19 cases in China is showing a decreasing trend.

According to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) on the 15th, the number of new infections reported in Shanghai in one day was 1,369 (including 1,203 asymptomatic cases).

The number of new infections in Shanghai has been decreasing from 1,929 (on the 12th) → 1,540 (on the 13th) → 1,369 (on the 14th).

Shanghai once recorded more than 20,000 cases per day. Expectations are growing that the city lockdown, which has continued since the end of March, could be eased as early as this month.

The number of infections in the capital Beijing was reported as 41 (including 8 asymptomatic cases). Considering that 7 of these cases were counted twice as they converted from asymptomatic to confirmed cases, the actual number of new infections is 34. Since the 25th of last month, Beijing has maintained daily new infection numbers between 30 and 70.

Beijing’s quarantine authorities are continuing high-intensity prevention policies during the Labor Day holiday, including banning dining inside restaurants, closing some subway stations, encouraging remote work for office workers, and conducting PCR tests for all residents. On this day, the total number of new infections across China was reported as 1,718 (including 1,492 asymptomatic cases).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.