Covid-19: Shanghai records zero new cases for the first time since March

A person signing documents after 14 days of isolation in quarantine in Shanghai, June 17, 2022 © LEO RAMIREZ/AFP

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2 mins

Shanghai announced no new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, a first since the beginning of March and the appearance of the epidemic in the city, which had given rise to several months of confinements and restrictions.

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“

 ,” the city said in a statement.

China is the last major economy to still stick to a "

 " strategy aimed at eliminating all spread through massive testing, targeted lockdowns and long quarantines.

China's economic capital was shut down for several months, after a spike in infections fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Despite the theoretical lifting of containment in early June, the 25 million inhabitants of Shanghai have had to wait for a return to normal life because of new restrictions by neighborhoods with each appearance of new cases.

Millions of residents were locked down again two weeks ago after a government-ordered mass screening campaign.

Restrictions eased in May

In Beijing, restrictions first imposed in May were eased as infections fell, but tightened again after an outbreak broke out in a bar.

After several days of mass testing and targeted containment, the "Heaven Supermarket" contamination chain, named after the bar, has been brought under control, Beijing authorities assured last week.

The city's school affairs office then announced on Saturday that elementary and middle school students could return to class on Monday.

School staff, students and their parents must, however, present a negative PCR test before returning and are called upon to "

 ", the administration said on social networks.

Beijing recorded two new local cases on Saturday.

►Also read: In Shenzhen, Covid-19 checks increase after three asymptomatic cases

(with AFP)

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