Shanghai orders entire city to self-test for Covid-19 as China pursues 'dynamic clearance'

26 million people of Shanghai were asked to test themselves on Sunday (April 3) using antigen kits and report any positive results. Meanwhile, stories of how Shanghai separates COVID-positive children from their parents have gone viral in the country and triggered widespread public anger.

Shanghai: Shanghai on Sunday (April 3) ordered its 26 million residents to undergo two more rounds of tests for COVID-19 as public anger grows over how authorities in China`s most populous city are tackling a record coronavirus surge. Residents should self-test on Sunday using antigen kits and report any positive results, Shanghai government officials told a news conference, while a nucleic acid test would be conducted citywide on Monday (March 3).

"The main task is to completely eliminate risk points and to cut off the chain of transmission so that we can curb the spread of the epidemic as soon as possible," said Wu Qianyu, an inspector from Shanghai Municipal Health Commission.

Essentially all of China`s financial capital is locked down after the city began curbing movement in its eastern districts last Monday, extending the restrictions to the entire city days later

Shanghai`s lockdown has massively disrupted daily life and businesses, even as healthcare workers and volunteers work round the clock trying to test the entire population and supply residents with groceries.

China`s COVID caseload remains low by international standards, but spikes in places like Shanghai are testing its previously successful approach of stamping out the virus through strict curbs and aggressive testing and tracing.