China is pursuing a strict zero Covid strategy, which will be severely tested with Omicron and especially the fast-spreading BA.2 variant. In China, any infected person arrives at a hospital or a quarantine facility that has been provisionally set up in Shanghai, including gyms, exhibition halls and hotels. But they reach their limits. The city has had more than 70,000 infections since early March. More than 110,000 close contacts were also identified, which are monitored separately.
“Great challenge”
In fact, the curfew in western Shanghai is only supposed to take place from Friday to Tuesday, but as before, in the east and south, where the lockdown is supposed to take place from Monday to Friday, people still have to stay in home. “The virus spread quickly and covertly,” said Party Deputy Leader Gu Honghui. “It’s a big challenge for testing capabilities.” Authorities are working under high pressure to analyze the situation and make decisions on how to proceed.