The latest lockdown policy in Shanghai in 2022: What are the differences between lockdown areas, control areas, and prevention areas? When will the blockade be lifted?

Since March, Shanghai has reported more than 73,000 positive cases of infection. On April 5, Shanghai continued to implement lockdown management and strictly enforced the rule of staying at home. So, what is the latest lockdown policy in Shanghai in 2022? What is the difference between the lockdown area, control area, and prevention area? When will the blockade be lifted?

1. The latest Shanghai lockdown policy in 2022

1. In the closed area, residential communities are under closed management, all personnel are not allowed to leave their homes, and people and vehicles are only allowed to enter but not leave. Ensure that take-out, express delivery and other basic necessities are delivered without contact and are not allowed to enter residential areas.

2. In the closed-off areas, staff members of party and government organs and public institutions at all levels, except those responsible for epidemic prevention tasks and ensuring basic operations, shall work from home or become community volunteers on the spot, report to the community residents' committee where they live, and fully participate in community epidemic prevention services. Medical personnel, epidemic prevention personnel, public security officers, food delivery couriers, etc. who need to travel due to work can travel normally with their work permit or work permit.

3. In the closed-off areas, all enterprises shall implement closed production or work from home, except for public service enterprises such as water, electricity, fuel oil, gas, communications, transportation, sanitation, grain, oil, meat and vegetable supply to ensure the lives of citizens and the basic operation of the city.

4. In the sealed-off areas, the operation of buses, subways, ferries, taxis and online ride-hailing vehicles will be suspended. Vehicles related to epidemic prevention and control, emergency medical treatment, life support, urban operation, emergency response, etc. are allowed to pass after being identified and verified by the district governments or competent departments of each industry. Other vehicles are not allowed to go on the road unless necessary.

2. What are the differences between Shanghai’s lockdown areas, control areas, and prevention areas?

1. Blocked area

Communities where cases and asymptomatic infections live and surrounding areas where they have frequent activities can be designated as containment areas.

From 2 days before the onset of a case or 2 days before the asymptomatic infected person tested positive to before isolation management, if there is a high possibility of transmission to people in workplaces, activity areas and other areas, and it is difficult to track and identify close contacts and close contacts of close contacts, the relevant area may also be designated as a closed area.

The closed areas can be precisely divided into communities (natural village groups), buildings, units, etc., to implement regional closure, stay at home, and provide door-to-door services.

2. Control area

From 2 days before the onset of a case or 2 days before an asymptomatic infected person tested positive to before isolation management, if there is a certain transmission risk to people in workplaces, activities and other areas, and it is difficult to track and identify close contacts and close contacts of close contacts, the relevant area will be designated as a control area.

The control area can be precisely divided into communities (natural village groups), buildings, units, etc., and people are not allowed to leave the area and gatherings are strictly prohibited.

Anyone who tests positive for nucleic acid in the controlled area will be immediately transferred to the sealed area.

3. Prevention area

All areas outside the closed and controlled areas within the county (district) are prevention areas.

Strengthen social control and strictly limit the gathering of people."

3. When will the lockdown in Shanghai be lifted in 2022?

It needs to be determined based on the specific prevention and control situation. The current epidemic situation in Shanghai is relatively severe, and it is expected to take some time to lift the blockade.

The blockade area can be lifted when the following conditions are met at the same time:

There have been no new cases or asymptomatic infections in the region in the past 14 days;

The last close contact in the area has been more than 14 days since the last exposure and the nucleic acid test is negative;

Two days before the lockdown was lifted, all personnel in the area completed a round of nucleic acid screening, and all results were negative.

In general, the unsealing of residential communities in Shanghai will be based on the results of nucleic acid screening, review, and comprehensive assessment by relevant departments, and will be subject to specific announcements from street towns or neighborhood committees.