Shanghai Again Records Daily Infection Cases, President Xi Jinping Will Not Change COVID-19 Restrictions

JAKARTA - Shanghai recorded another record daily COVID-19 infection, with more than 27,000 cases reported on Thursday, a day after President Xi Jinping said the country should continue its strict dynamic 'zero-COVID' policy, as well as pandemic control measures.

China's financial hub Shanghai reported more than 27,000 coronavirus cases on Thursday, setting a new record a day after President Xi Jinping said the country should continue its strict "dynamic COVID cleanup" policy and pandemic control measures.

Shanghai is battling China's worst COVID-19 outbreak since the virus first emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, with the city's 25 million residents still largely under lockdown, despite restrictions being partially relaxed in some areas this week.

Raising hopes for a policy change, on Wednesday the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidance on home quarantine on its social media, as reported by Reuters April 14.

Previously, under China's strict rules, even asymptomatic people had to be quarantined in centralized facilities, where many people complained about poor conditions.

The CDC's guidance on quarantine at home, in well-ventilated rooms stocked with masks, sanitizers and other equipment, raises hopes quarantine rules at state facilities may be relaxed.

However, when asked by social media users in the online comments section about who might qualify for home quarantine, the CDC referred to the old rules. Shanghai authorities also gave no hint about a change of approach during Thursday's briefing.

On Thursday, Shanghai reported a record 2,573 symptomatic cases for the previous day, up from 1,189 the day before. While asymptomatic cases reached 25,146, up from 25,141.

A city official said cases had continued to rise despite the lockdown, partly because of the backlog of test results, as well as because of ongoing transmission among family members.

On Wednesday, President Xi said China should stick to a strict 'zero-dynamic COVID' policy, while the global pandemic remains very serious, promising a lasting lockdown.

Speaking during a visit to the southern Chinese island of Hainan, President Xi indicated there would be no immediate change of approach in pandemic control measures, saying the country should stick to its approach, all of which is closing China's borders to international travel, not relaxing precautions.

China's zero-COVID policy is being increasingly challenged by the Omicron variant that is spreading fast, putting millions under various forms of lockdown and disrupting supply chains, while other countries have lifted restrictions even though the virus is still spreading.

An April 7 study by Gavekal Dragonomics found that 87 of China's 100 largest cities by GDP have imposed some form of quarantine restrictions.