Shanghai reported on Sunday a new daily record for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases as the Chinese financial hub battled with a near one-month long outbreak while endless testing and localised lockdowns put residents on edge.
Shanghai reported 2,631 new asymptomatic cases for March 26, accounting for nearly 60% of China's total new asymptomatic cases that day. The metropolis separately reported 47 new cases with symptoms.
"Why can't Shanghai be locked down? Because it's not only a city of local residents, but also a city with a highly important role in China's economy," Wu Fan, an expert from the city's anti-epidemic leading expert team, said on Saturday. Over 14 million Shanghai residents have taken antigen tests, the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission said on Sunday.