Shanghai reports 21,222 new infections, testing to continue

Shanghai reported 21,222 new locally transmitted infections on Thursday, bringing the total tally of infections since March 1 to 131,524.

Among the new infections, 824 are confirmed symptomatic cases, Wu Qianyu, a senior inspector with the municipal health commission, said at a news briefing on Friday. The latest COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in just one severe case who is currently receiving treatment, she added.

According to official data, the majority of the 4,393 confirmed symptomatic cases so far are people aged from 18 to 60. Fifteen percent of the cases are those aged 18 and below.

The city launched another round of nucleic acid and antigen testing on Friday, the municipal government announced.

Four makeshift hospitals with a combined total of 38,000 beds have been operating out of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, the Shanghai New International Expo Center and the Fuxing Hall at the China Flower Expo in Shanghai, and the Lingang Special Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

According to Jin Chen, deputy director of the Municipal Housing and Construction Commission, the setting up of the city's largest makeshift hospital within the National Exhibition and Convention Center is expected to be complete tomorrow. This facility will house around 50,000 beds.