China's most populous and wealthiest city, Shanghai has started easing its lockdown&nbsp;on Monday after&nbsp;reporting more than 25,000 covid cases a day earlier.

The Communist Party is pressurising authorities to make the city work again after more than two weeks. Earlier as&nbsp;the lockdown stretched on, it was difficult for people to get adequate food and medicines, Reuters reported.

On Sunday, Shanghai reported 25,173 new asymptomatic infections, up from 23,973 the day before, though symptomatic cases fell from 1,006 to 914.<o:p></o:p>

The city official Gu Honghui, that the city is now categorising the residential units into three safety categories in order to allow the residents in neighbourhood with no positive cases for a two- week period to engage in “suitable activity.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-china-closes-guangzhou-to-most-arrivals-as-outbreak-spreads-470136">COVID-19: China closes Guangzhou to most arrivals as outbreak spreads</a>

However, it’s still unclear that how many of the city’s 25 million residents will be released from lockdown right away, the moves offer some relief for those who have been cooped up for more than three weeks in fight against the coronavirus since its outbreak in late 2019 in central Wuhan.

Gu Honghui said, Shanghai was divided into 7,624 sealed regions, 2,460 being subjected to ‘control’ after a week of no new infections and 7,565 ‘prevention areas’ to be opened up after two weeks with any coronavirus cases. The ones in prevention areas who travel around their neighbourhood must maintain social distance and may by sealed again after new cases emerge.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;China: Shanghai's covid-19 infections rise by 25,000, authorities shaping an exit plan from lockdown

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-shanghais-covid-19-infections-rise-by-25000-authorities-shaping-an-exit-plan-from-lockdown-470183/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The industrial neighbourhood of Jinshan, on the southwestern outskirts of Shanghai was the first one to publish its list, which included name of residentials locations classified into high and medium risks section.

Many social media users criticised the Shanghai government saying relaxing action as a major risk at a time when the city is dealing with a record number of cases every day, while some claimed that the city does not have any choice. While the complaints about controlling still continues as people in Xuhui district told Reuters, neighbouring committees had put locks in their bicycle to confine them to their homes.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-releases-thousands-of-recovered-covid-patients-but-new-cases-continue-to-rise-470006">Shanghai releases thousands of recovered Covid patients, but new cases continue to rise</a>

The highly contagious but less lethal Omicron variant is straining China’s zero tolerance attitude towards COVID-19, which mandates one to be in quarantine even if they have no symptoms.&nbsp;

However, other countries are trying to live with the virus, China’s policy has halted all international travels and is taking a growing economic toll as towns apply limitations and eastern Ningbo and Guangzhou are the recent ones to do so.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

China's most populous and wealthiest city, Shanghai has started easing its lockdown on Monday after reporting more than 25,000 covid cases a day earlier. The Communist Party is pressurising authorities to make the city work again after more than two weeks.

China's most populous and wealthiest city, Shanghai has started easing its lockdown on Monday after reporting more than 25,000 covid cases a day earlier. The Communist Party is pressurising authorities to make the city work again after more than two weeks. Earlier as the lockdown stretched on, it was difficult for people to get adequate food and medicines, Reuters reported. On Sunday, Shanghai reported 25,173 new asymptomatic infections, up from 23,973 the day before, though symptomatic cases fell from 1,006 to 914. The city official Gu Honghui, that the city is now categorising the residential units into three safety categories in order to allow the residents in neighbourhood with no positive cases for a two- week period to engage in “suitable activity.” Also read | COVID-19: China closes Guangzhou to most arrivals as outbreak spreads However, it’s still unclear that how many of the city’s 25 million residents will be released from lockdown right away, the moves offer some relief for those who have been cooped up for more than three weeks in fight against the coronavirus since its outbreak in late 2019 in central Wuhan. Gu Honghui said, Shanghai was divided into 7,624 sealed regions, 2,460 being subjected to ‘control’ after a week of no new infections and 7,565 ‘prevention areas’ to be opened up after two weeks with any coronavirus cases. The ones in prevention areas who travel around their neighbourhood must maintain social distance and may by sealed again after new cases emerge. Watch | China: Shanghai's covid-19 infections rise by 25,000, authorities shaping an exit plan from lockdown The industrial neighbourhood of Jinshan, on the southwestern outskirts of Shanghai was the first one to publish its list, which included name of residentials locations classified into high and medium risks section. Many social media users criticised the Shanghai government saying relaxing action as a major risk at a time when the city is dealing with a record number of cases every day, while some claimed that the city does not have any choice. While the complaints about controlling still continues as people in Xuhui district told Reuters, neighbouring committees had put locks in their bicycle to confine them to their homes. Also read | Shanghai releases thousands of recovered Covid patients, but new cases continue to rise The highly contagious but less lethal Omicron variant is straining China’s zero tolerance attitude towards COVID-19, which mandates one to be in quarantine even if they have no symptoms. However, other countries are trying to live with the virus, China’s policy has halted all international travels and is taking a growing economic toll as towns apply limitations and eastern Ningbo and Guangzhou are the recent ones to do so. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: Shanghai to ease lockdown in some areas despite rise in cases

Chinese health authorities reported nearly 3,400 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, double the previous day, forcing lockdowns on virus hotspots as the country contends with its gravest outbreak in two years.

A nationwide surge in cases has seen authorities close schools in Shanghai and lock down several northeastern cities, as almost 19 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants.

The city of Jilin has been partially locked down, with hundreds of neighbourhoods sealed up, an official announced Sunday, while Yanji, an urban area of nearly 700,000 bordering North Korea, was fully closed off.

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China, where the virus was first detected in late 2019, has maintained a strict 'zero-Covid' policy enforced by swift lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing when clusters have emerged.

But the latest flare-up, driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant and a spike in asymptomatic cases, is challenging that approach.

Zhang Yan, an official with the Jilin provincial health commission, admitted Sunday that local authorities' virus response so far had been lacking.

"The emergency response mechanism in some areas is not robust enough, there is insufficient understanding of the characteristics of the Omicron variant... and judgment has been inaccurate," he said at a government press briefing.

Residents of Jilin have completed six rounds of mass testing, local officials said. On Sunday the city reported over 500 cases of the Omicron variant.

The neighbouring city of Changchun -- an industrial base of nine million people -- was locked down Friday.&nbsp;

The smaller cities of Siping and Dunhua, both in Jilin province, were locked down Thursday and Friday, according to official announcements.

The mayor of Jilin and the head of the Changchun health commission were dismissed from their jobs Saturday, state media reported, in a sign of the political imperative placed on local authorities to squash virus clusters.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-fires-mayors-and-closes-schools-as-an-outbreak-spreads-461622">&nbsp;China fires mayors and closes schools as an outbreak spreads</a>

Covid-zero

But fatigue with the strict approach has been showing in&nbsp;China, with officials increasingly urging softer and more targeted measures to contain the virus, while economists warn that tough clampdowns are hurting the economy.

As cases have climbed since late February, the response in different parts of the country has been generally softer and more targeted compared to December, when the city of Xi’an and its 13 million people were locked down for two weeks.

In&nbsp;China’s biggest city Shanghai, authorities have increasingly moved to temporarily lock down individual schools, businesses, restaurants and malls over close-contact fears rather than mass quarantines.

Long lines have been seen outside hospitals in the city as people rush to obtain a negative Covid test.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-locks-down-city-of-9-million-as-covid-cases-surge-461271">China locks down city of 9 million as Covid cases surge</a>

As cases rise, the country's National Health Commission announced Friday that they would introduce the use of rapid antigen tests.

The kits will now be available online or at pharmacies for clinics and ordinary citizens to buy for "self-testing", the health commission said.

Although nucleic acid tests will continue to be the main method of testing, the move suggests&nbsp;China&nbsp;may be anticipating that official efforts will not be able to contain the virus.

Last week, a top Chinese scientist said the country should aim to co-exist with the virus, like other nations, where Omicron has spread like wildfire.

Watch |&nbsp;China: Highest daily COVID-19 cases in 2 years as Omicron fuels the surge

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-highest-daily-covid-19-cases-in-2-years-as-omicron-fuels-the-surge-461735/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But the government has also made clear that mass lockdowns remain an option.

Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who frequently telegraphs top-level thinking on the pandemic response, on Saturday urged regions to quickly pounce on and clear outbreaks.

Chinese health authorities reported nearly 3,400 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, double the previous day, forcing lockdowns on virus hotspots as the country contends with its gravest outbreak in two years.

Chinese health authorities reported nearly 3,400 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, double the previous day, forcing lockdowns on virus hotspots as the country contends with its gravest outbreak in two years. A nationwide surge in cases has seen authorities close schools in Shanghai and lock down several northeastern cities, as almost 19 provinces battle clusters of the Omicron and Delta variants. The city of Jilin has been partially locked down, with hundreds of neighbourhoods sealed up, an official announced Sunday, while Yanji, an urban area of nearly 700,000 bordering North Korea, was fully closed off. Also read | COVID-19: China records highest daily cases in two years China, where the virus was first detected in late 2019, has maintained a strict 'zero-Covid' policy enforced by swift lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing when clusters have emerged. But the latest flare-up, driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant and a spike in asymptomatic cases, is challenging that approach. Zhang Yan, an official with the Jilin provincial health commission, admitted Sunday that local authorities' virus response so far had been lacking. "The emergency response mechanism in some areas is not robust enough, there is insufficient understanding of the characteristics of the Omicron variant... and judgment has been inaccurate," he said at a government press briefing. Residents of Jilin have completed six rounds of mass testing, local officials said. On Sunday the city reported over 500 cases of the Omicron variant. The neighbouring city of Changchun -- an industrial base of nine million people -- was locked down Friday. The smaller cities of Siping and Dunhua, both in Jilin province, were locked down Thursday and Friday, according to official announcements. The mayor of Jilin and the head of the Changchun health commission were dismissed from their jobs Saturday, state media reported, in a sign of the political imperative placed on local authorities to squash virus clusters. Also read | China fires mayors and closes schools as an outbreak spreads Covid-zero But fatigue with the strict approach has been showing in China, with officials increasingly urging softer and more targeted measures to contain the virus, while economists warn that tough clampdowns are hurting the economy. As cases have climbed since late February, the response in different parts of the country has been generally softer and more targeted compared to December, when the city of Xi’an and its 13 million people were locked down for two weeks. In China’s biggest city Shanghai, authorities have increasingly moved to temporarily lock down individual schools, businesses, restaurants and malls over close-contact fears rather than mass quarantines. Long lines have been seen outside hospitals in the city as people rush to obtain a negative Covid test. Also read | China locks down city of 9 million as Covid cases surge As cases rise, the country's National Health Commission announced Friday that they would introduce the use of rapid antigen tests. The kits will now be available online or at pharmacies for clinics and ordinary citizens to buy for "self-testing", the health commission said. Although nucleic acid tests will continue to be the main method of testing, the move suggests China may be anticipating that official efforts will not be able to contain the virus. Last week, a top Chinese scientist said the country should aim to co-exist with the virus, like other nations, where Omicron has spread like wildfire. Watch | China: Highest daily COVID-19 cases in 2 years as Omicron fuels the surge But the government has also made clear that mass lockdowns remain an option. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who frequently telegraphs top-level thinking on the pandemic response, on Saturday urged regions to quickly pounce on and clear outbreaks.

COVID-19: China records nearly 3,400 daily virus cases in worst outbreak in two years

The&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;port&nbsp;city&nbsp;of&nbsp;Qingdao&nbsp;reported 88 new coronavirus cases for March 5, all of them of the&nbsp;Omicron&nbsp;variant, fuelling China's highest number of daily locally transmitted cases so far this year.

China recorded 329 new coronavirus cases on the mainland on Saturday, 175 of them locally transmitted, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Sunday, compared with 102 local cases a day earlier.

The&nbsp;Qingdao&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;was mainly&nbsp;among&nbsp;middle school&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Laixi county, the&nbsp;Qingdao&nbsp;Municipal Health Commission said.

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Laixi county will implement a second round of mass testing on March 7, a&nbsp;Qingdao&nbsp;official said at a news conference on Sunday, adding that there was no major risk of further&nbsp;outbreak.

China's "dynamic clearance" approach to COVID-19 aims shut off transmission routes as soon as new cases are detected.

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The&nbsp;Qingdao&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;helped send China's total local confirmed case count to its highest since Dec. 31, with other cases reported mainly in Jilin, Guangdong and Hebei provinces, according to the NHC.

The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, stood at 209, compared with 166 a day earlier.

As of March 5, mainland China had confirmed 110,868 COVID-19 cases and 4,636 fatalities.

The Chinese port city of Qingdao reported 88 new coronavirus cases for March 5, all of them of the Omicron variant, fuelling China's highest number of daily locally transmitted cases so far this year.

The Chinese port city of Qingdao reported 88 new coronavirus cases for March 5, all of them of the Omicron variant, fuelling China's highest number of daily locally transmitted cases so far this year. China recorded 329 new coronavirus cases on the mainland on Saturday, 175 of them locally transmitted, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Sunday, compared with 102 local cases a day earlier. The Qingdao outbreak was mainly among middle school students in Laixi county, the Qingdao Municipal Health Commission said. Also read | China reiterates 'reunification' with Taiwan, firmly opposes foreign interference Laixi county will implement a second round of mass testing on March 7, a Qingdao official said at a news conference on Sunday, adding that there was no major risk of further outbreak. China's "dynamic clearance" approach to COVID-19 aims shut off transmission routes as soon as new cases are detected. Also read | China plans 7.1% defence spending rise this year, outpacing GDP target The Qingdao outbreak helped send China's total local confirmed case count to its highest since Dec. 31, with other cases reported mainly in Jilin, Guangdong and Hebei provinces, according to the NHC. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, stood at 209, compared with 166 a day earlier. As of March 5, mainland China had confirmed 110,868 COVID-19 cases and 4,636 fatalities.

Chinese city of Qingdao reports Omicron outbreak among students

After a spate of recent Covid cases, the northern Chinese city of Tianjin is conducting mass Covid testing. The city has advised its nearly 14 million people to stay at home

China steps up its zero-tolerance Covid-19 strategy