2 stage blockade

From 5 a.m. on March 28 to 5 a.m. on April 1, a temporary blockade order was applied in areas east and south of the Huangpu River, including Pudong district and surrounding areas. Then, from 3:00 a.m. on April 1 to 3:00 a.m. on April 5, the blockade order was implemented in the inner-city districts to the west of the Huangpu River.

Two-stage blockade

China is still pressing officials around the country to try to contain the outbreak, implementing the most restrictive measures in the world, including isolating anyone who tests positive for the virus. SARS-CoV-2 and people at risk of infection.

Employees, shoppers and diners are required to quarantine inside offices, stores and restaurants if they are considered to be in close contact with someone who is sick. People who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 will go to hospitals or isolation facilities.

Shanghai recorded 4,477 new Covid-19 cases on March 28, most of which were asymptomatic. Despite reporting a record high number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, the number of deaths from the epidemic in Shanghai remains low.

Despite calls for a more targeted pandemic approach and some adjustments, the blockade in Shanghai shows that the Chinese government is continuing to pursue the most stringent measures.

Authorities said Shanghai’s two-phase lockdown was made to reduce disruption and, unlike previous lockdowns, and an end date had been determined. Asymptomatic patients are being isolated at facilities outside the hospital to relieve pressure on the health system.

Lu Hongzhou, the chief medical expert on disease control in Shenzhen, said that testing and dividing the city into two halves with the Huangpu River as the boundary was a way to prevent Shanghai from shutting down completely.

“Half of the city will deploy large-scale testing, the other half will still operate normally,” Mr. Lu said.

Global financial services company Macquarie Group said that China could contain the outbreak in the next few weeks if the blockade measure worked.

“However, Covid-19 does pose a risk of a significant drop in growth in the remaining months of this year as the lockdown takes a toll. The consumer businesses and real estate sectors are the sectors most affected,” the Macquarie Group report said.

People are confused because of the blockade order

Even before Shanghai imposed a blockade order to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, many people’s lives in China’s largest city had been affected by the pandemic.

On March 27, after being informed of the city’s blockade, Ivy Sun, a 32-year-old office worker, and neighbors rushed to buy groceries and other supplies.

“Everybody rushed out. The streets are very crowded and the shops are full of people,” Sun said.

Wang Hui, manager of a store near the Bund, said high rents and a lack of customers could affect his business. “I don’t know how long the store can last,” Wang said.