Shanghai Chief Li Qiang: "Victory in the COVID-19 Prevention War"

Zero New Community Infections... Researcher: "Victory in Shanghai's Defense Battle"
Beijing to Resume In-Person Classes for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools from 27th, with Some Exceptions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Li Qiang, the head of Shanghai, China, which had been under a full lockdown for over two months due to COVID-19, declared victory in the battle against the pandemic after recording zero new community infections.

According to Chinese media on the 25th, Li Qiang, in his work report at the Communist Party Shanghai Municipal Congress held that day, stated that they overcame the stalemate and repeated resurgence of COVID-19 and achieved "social dynamic zero COVID" (a situation where no new infections occur outside lockdown zones), declaring, "We have won the great battle to defend Shanghai."

Li added, "We resolutely implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and the Party Central Committee's policy decisions, and with full support from relevant central departments, all regions nationwide, and the People's Army, we united as one and made every effort."

This victory declaration came immediately after Shanghai recorded zero new daily community infections for the first time in over four months on the 24th.

Beijing authorities also judged that the club-related COVID-19 spread had subsided and announced that from the 27th, schools in lockdown and controlled areas, except for those within the city, will resume in-person classes for elementary, middle, and high schools. Kindergartens in the city will reopen from the 4th of next month.

Beijing authorities had shifted elementary, middle, and high schools to online classes in early May and resumed in-person classes only for 9th and 12th graders from the 2nd of this month.

Additionally, outdoor sports activities for students in Beijing will resume from the 27th in areas with no infection cases for seven consecutive days. However, underground sports facilities will remain closed.

Furthermore, Universal Studios, a large-scale theme park in Beijing, ended its approximately two-month closure and reopened on the 25th.