Shanghai aims for zero COVID cases by Wednesday

Shanghai reportedly aims to have zero cases of COVID-19 outside its quarantine centers by Wednesday, which could be a turning point in the city’s strict “no tolerance” blockade, making residents increasingly frustrated.

The goal will allow the city to further ease its blockade and begin to return to normal life, two sources told Reuters.

To achieve the goal on Wednesday, officials will speed up testing of COVID and the transfer of infected residents to quarantine centers, according to a speech by a local Communist Party official.

Shanghai aims to have zero cases of COVID-19 outside its designated quarantine centers by Wednesday. REUTERS / Aly Song Shanghai has imposed strict blockades in response to an outbreak caused by the Omicron variant. REUTERS staff in Shanghai will speed up the testing of COVID and the relocation of infected residents to quarantine centers. LIU JIN / AFP via Getty Images

Shanghai has imposed strict blockades in response to an outbreak caused by the Omicron variant. Since the jump began in early March, the city has counted 320,000 cases.

According to the “no tolerance” policy, only health workers, volunteers, providers and those with special permission can move freely.

Strict rules mean quarantined residents must order food or wait for government deliveries of vegetables, meat and eggs, the BBC reported.

Under the strict blockade of Shanghai, only health workers, volunteers, suppliers and those with special permission can move freely. REUTERS / Aly Song Shanghai residents recently ran with officials on austerity measures. AP / Andy Wong Residents of quarantine centers claim that they have not received enough supplies to block.REUTERS / Aly Song

However, frustrated Shanghai residents have expressed anger on social media over what they say is a shortage of food and other products.

Footage posted on Twitter shows people in the closed city pushing flower pots on their balconies and chanting, “We want deliveries,” France24 reported.

“We want deliveries,” quarantined residents chanted.

With postal wires