Covid news: Shanghai eases draconian lockdown as UK cases may be ‘levelling off’

Unknown number of people are allowed out in Shanghai following unrest over lockdown

Shanghai: Looting and unrest in Chinese city amid strict Covid lockdown

Shanghai has eased a draconian two-week lockdown to allow some residents out of their homes after videos posted online showed what was said to be people who ran out of food breaking into a supermarket and shouting appeals for help.

The number of people who were allowed out in the city of 25 million wasn't immediately clear. The Chinese government said some markets and pharmacies also would reopen.

The abrupt closure of most businesses and orders to stay home left the public angry about a lack of access to food and medicine.

People who test positive for the virus have been forced into sprawling temporary quarantine facilities criticized by some as crowded and unsanitary.

Meanwhile, Covid cases in the UK remain high but could be levelling off, according to official data.

Office for National statistic data showed that one in 13 people in the UK had the infection in the week ending 2 April.

The estimated number of infections is, however down slightly on the previous last week, which may be a sign of cases beginning to level off.

Key Points

• Shanghai eases draconian lockdown
• UK cases still high but may be ‘levelling off’

[12 April 2022 13:00 · Matt Mathers]

Shanghai COVID infections still not under effective control - official

The COVID-hit financial centre of Shanghai has still not brought the outbreak under control and the number of new confirmed cases is expected to remain high over the next few days, a government health official said on Tuesday.

“The epidemic is in a rapid increase phase, with social transmission still not brought under effective control,” said Lei Zhenglong of the National Health Commission at a briefing in Beijing.

“The forecast for the next few days is that the number of infected people will remain at a high level,” he said.

[12 April 2022 13:28 · Matt Mathers]

UK issues more than 50 fines for Downing St lockdown parties

British police said on Tuesday they would issue at least another 30 fines for people who attended gatherings in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s offices and residence in breach of strict coronavirus lockdown rules.

Police are investigating 12 gatherings at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office after an internal inquiry found Johnson’s staff had enjoyed alcohol-fuelled parties, with the British leader attending a few of the events himself.

Opponents have urged the prime minister to resign, but the Ukraine war has dampened an initial outcry.

There was no immediate comment on the fines from Johnson’s office, which has said it would confirm if he was a recipient.

Last month, an initial 20 fines were issued and police said that total now stood at more than 50. Further punitive measures are possible.

“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed, this includes continuing to assess significant amounts of investigative material from which further referrals may be made,” police said in a statement.

[12 April 2022 13:50 · Matt Mathers]

WTO lowers 2022 global trade growth forecast amid COVID, Ukraine 'double whammy'

The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday revised down its forecast for global trade growth this year to 3% from 4.7% due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and warned of a potential food crisis caused by surging prices.

The report from the global trade watchdog said the conflict had damaged the world economy at a critical juncture at a time when COVID-19 is still weighing on the recovery.

“The economic reverberations of this conflict will extend far beyond Ukraine’s borders,” said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at a press conference presenting the findings.

“It’s now clear that the double whammy of the pandemic and the war has disrupted supply chains, increased inflationary pressures and lowered expectations for output and trade growth.”

[12 April 2022 14:05 · Matt Mathers]

Taiwan iPhone maker Pegatron suspends operations at two China plants

Taiwan’s Pegatron Corp , which assembles iPhones for Apple Inc, said on Tuesday it had suspended operations at its Shanghai and Kunshan plants in China due to the government’s strict COVID-19 protocols.

China has put Shanghai under a tight lockdown since late March and neighbouring Kunshan has also tightened curbs to control the country’s biggest COVID-19 outbreak since the coronavirus was discovered in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan.

Global companies, from phone to chip makers, are highly dependent on China and Southeast Asia for production and have been diversifying their supply chains after the pandemic caused havoc.

According to Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission, as of April 7 a total of 161 listed Taiwanese companies reported their operations in Shanghai and Kunshan have stopped, 41 of them make electronics.

“In the best-case scenario, complete resumption of production may not be possible until late April or early May,” analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with TF International Securities said, adding that Apple could minimise the impact due to its strong supply chain and relationship with the Chinese government.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[12 April 2022 14:24 · Matt Mathers]

How long am I contagious with Covid?

How long after infection with COVID-19 are you contagious?

It’s not yet clear, but early data suggests people might become infectious sooner than with other variants — possibly within a day after infection.

Full report below:

[12 April 2022 14:40 · Matt Mathers]

UK PM, his wife and chancellor fined for breaking Covid laws

UK prime minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and chancellor, Rishi Sunak, are being fined for breaking Covid laws during lockdown.

The Met Police confirmed on Tuesday that each will be handed a fixed penalty for breaching regulations at events on government property,

The fines are among at least 30 imposed over the past fortnight, bringing the total number of penalties in relation to lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street and Whitehall to more than 50.

[12 April 2022 15:05 · Matt Mathers]

Covid-19 weekly deaths continue to climb but levels remain low

The number of deaths involving coronavirus registered each week in England and Wales is continuing to rise, though levels remain well below those reached during previous waves of the virus.

A total of 853 deaths registered in the seven days to April 1 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is up 9% on the previous week and is the second clear week-on-week increase.

Ian Jones reports:

[12 April 2022 15:17 · Matt Mathers]

We’re wrapping up our rolling coverage of the Covid pandemic for today.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your afternoon.