China: Authorities in Shanghai to conduct mass COVID-19 testing every weekend through July /update 13

Event

Authorities in Shanghai will conduct mass testing every weekend through July to detect COVID-19 cases. All residents must take at least one nucleic acid test a week. Employees at supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, and barbershops are required to take nucleic acid tests daily. Staff at banks, gas companies, and industrial firms must undergo antigen tests every other day. Authorities will impose temporary lockdown measures in residential compounds with reported COVID-19 cases ahead of the weekend testing; officials will lift the curbs once all individuals in the compound are tested.

Eased COVID-19 measures are in place in low-risk areas and prevention areas of Shanghai; residents may leave their housing compounds and return to work. Public transport, including bus, metro, and rail services, can resume. Taxis, ride-hailing services, and private cars are allowed in areas with low COVID-19 activity. Individuals entering public venues or taking public transport will need to present a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours. Shopping malls, convenience stores, pharmacies, and beauty salons may operate at limited capacity, while cinemas and gyms must remain closed. Companies will no longer require approval from the government to resume operations. However, officials have reimposed a ban on dine-in services at restaurants, while business establishments in areas with strict lockdown measures in place will most likely remain closed. As of June 16, at least 36 locations in Baoshan, Chongming, Hongkou, Huangpu, Jing'an, Minhang, Pudong New Area, Songjiang, Xuhui, Qingpu, and Yangpu districts are designated as medium-risk.

Officials continue to adopt a zero COVID-19 approach across the municipality. Locations are designated as lockdown, control, or prevention, depending on COVID-19 activity. District-level officials will provide a list of specific places and designations. Residents in lockdown areas must remain in their homes, while individuals in control areas may leave their homes at staggered hours and move around within their compound or community under strict precautionary measures. Officials typically extend measures until two weeks after the latest date of newly confirmed community cases. The government will likely carry out several rounds of testing in these locations before easing restrictions.

Travelers leaving Shanghai must present results of a negative nucleic acid test and antigen test taken within 48 and 24 hours, respectively. Officials do not require antigen tests for travelers who receive a nucleic acid test within 24 hours of departure. Individuals entering Shanghai must present a negative nucleic acid test taken within 48 hours. Passengers traveling to Shanghai by air must present a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 48 hours before departure. Provincial and municipal governments in other areas of China could require individuals recently in Shanghai to undergo COVID-19 testing and/or mandatory quarantine periods.

The government may continue to require factories to operate under a closed-loop system where employees live and work on-site and undergo regular testing. Nevertheless, factories in areas under lockdown may remain closed. Cargo processing delays and disruptions remain possible at the Port of Shanghai. Truck drivers must hold a pass issued by the Shanghai Port Group and hold both a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 48 hours and a negative antigen test result taken within 24 hours.

Advice

Strictly heed the instructions of authorities. Confirm appointments and transport arrangements, especially at PVG and SHA. Remain cooperative if approached and questioned by law enforcement officers.