The Covid shutdown in Shanghai has been expanded to the entire city.

Following a new wave of Covid cases, Chinese authorities have expanded their lockdown of Shanghai to include all of the city's 25 million residents.

Initially, separate controls were in place for the eastern and western parts of the city, but now the entire city is subject to indefinite limitations.

Shanghai is the most heavily fortified city in the world.

For more than a month, the key financial center has been fighting a new wave of coronavirus infections.

The number of reported cases has climbed to more than 13,000 each day, while this is still low by international standards.

According to residents in some parts of the city, the strict policy meant that no one was allowed to leave their housing compounds, even to get essential supplies.

Due to a paucity of supplies and delivery personnel, they reported issues buying food and drink online, as well as restrictions on when customers can place their purchases.

The city is putting China's zero-Covid strategy to the test, as public outrage over quarantine laws grows.

China's stance distinguishes it from the majority of other countries that are attempting to cope with the virus.

However, the Omicron variant's greater transmissibility and milder nature have raised concerns about the strategy's long-term viability.
"At the moment, epidemic prevention and control in Shanghai is at its most difficult and crucial stage," said Wu Qianyu, a municipal health official.  

  "Without hesitation, without wavering, we must adhere to the general principle of dynamic clearance."

After a city-wide testing campaign obtained samples from more than 25 million people in 24 hours, Shanghai announced a record 13,086 new asymptomatic coronavirus infections on Monday.

At least 38,000 individuals have been dispatched from other provinces to Shanghai, according to official media, in the largest statewide medical operation since Wuhan's closure in early 2020.