Shanghai to create a 'three zone' system to manage the COVID-19 outbreak

Shanghai will launch another round of nucleic acid testing and then be divided into three zones to manage the outbreak at the regional level based on the test results and exposure risks, the city's vice mayor Zong Ming said at a news briefing on Saturday.

The three zones will be precautionary zone, controlled zone and lockdown zone.

Precautionary zone refers to residential communities and other places that have not reported infections in the past 14 days. People in the zone will be encouraged to limit mobility and avoid gatherings. Activities can be carried out in the area.

Residents in a controlled zone where no infections were reported in the past week will be required to carry out self-health monitoring at home. Residents are allowed to retrieve food deliveries or take a walk at a designated spot within the compound.

Regions that have reported new locally transmitted infections in the past week will be included in the lockdown zone where residents are required to stay at home for a week-long closed-loop management.

The city reported 23,624 new locally transmitted infections on Friday. Of the 23,624 reported transmissions, 22,609 were asymptomatic.