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Shanghai government may extend Pudong lockdown beyond Friday as Covid-19 infections surge, say sources
- The lockdown of the area of 5.7 million people had been due to expire tomorrow, as Puxi, to the west of the river, starts its four-day shutdown
- But only a small number of residential compounds and commercial areas classified as low-risk will be allowed to reopen, say two local government sources
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Most of the Pudong area of Shanghai is likely to remain locked down beyond Friday, according to sources, after a four-day effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 on the eastern side of Huangpu River proved insufficient.
The lockdown of the area of 5.7 million people announced on Sunday had been due to expire tomorrow, as Puxi, to the west of the river, starts its four-day lockdown.
But only a small number of residential compounds and commercial areas in Pudong classified as low-risk will be allowed to reopen, according to two local government sources with knowledge of the matter.
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An extension of the lockdown in Pudong, overlapping with the new measures in Puxi, would mean that the mainland’s commercial and financial capital effectively finds itself under citywide lockdown – a situation ruled out by the authorities as recently as two weeks ago.
The sources said the decision to keep most of Pudong sealed off, was a result of the surge in infections – largely asymptomatic – revealed by mass testing.
02:51
Shanghai imposes phased lockdowns as daily Covid infection numbers surge beyond 3,000
Shanghai imposes phased lockdowns as daily Covid infection numbers surge beyond 3,000
Local officials have yet to decide how long the extension will last, but sources said a step-by-step approach would be taken to gradually lift restrictions on most residential compounds, retailers and manufacturing sites.
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