Shanghai, China′s financial capital, tightened traffic restrictions on Tuesday, after new COVID-19 cases spiked to 13,000, following a day of extensive city-wide testing. Nationwide, China reported 1,235 confirmed coronavirus cases and 15,355, new asymptomatic cases for April 4.

Restrictions were made more stringent last week as the city battled to curb its largest COVID-19 outbreak. Over 25 million people were facing lockdown, after restrictions in the western districts of Shanghai were extended until further notice. At the moment, pandemic prevention and control in Shanghai is at its most difficult and critical stage. The city reported 13,086 new asymptomatic coronavirus infections on April 4 against 8,581 cases on the previous day, following a city-wide surveillance testing exercise conducted for over 25 million people in 24 hours. At least 38,000 personnel have been deployed to Shanghai from other regions to deal with the emergency. The situation seems more grave as thousands of Shanghai citizens have been detained in inadequate "central quarantine" facilities after testing positive for the disease, regardless of whether they are ill with difficulties or in availability and accessibility of medicine, food, and water. (Reuters, April 5, 2022)