Shanghai says its lockdown will only be lifted in batches

SHANGHAI — Shanghai said on Friday (April 22) that it will only lift its lockdown in batches once virus transmission outside quarantined areas was stamped out to a satisfactory level, as it announced a new round of city-wide testing.

In a question and answer posted on its official WeChat account, the Shanghai government said the city's epidemic was showing a "positive trend" and that life in the city could return to normal soon as long as the policy was adhered to.

In a separate statement issued late on Thursday, it announced a new round of "nine major" actions, that would include more Covid-19 testing for all its residents from Friday.

Shanghai reported 11 deaths on Thursday. There were also 15,698 new local asymptomatic cases and 1,931 symptomatic ones.

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