Transport suspended in China's Shanghai as asymptomatic COVID cases surge

Shanghai: China's financial hub of Shanghai launched a planned two-stage lockdown of the city on Monday, closing bridges and tunnels, and restricting highway traffic in a scramble to contain surging local COVID-19 cases.

The snap lockdown, in the city of 26 million people announced by Shanghai's city government on Sunday, will split the city in two roughly along the Huangpu River for nine days to allow for staggered testing.

Yesterday, a record 3,450 symptomatic COVID cases were reported in Shanghai, accounting for nearly 70% of the nationwide total, along with 50 symptomatic cases, the city government said on Monday. 

The city’s Public Security Bureau said it was closing cross-river bridges and tunnels, and highway tollbooths concentrated in the city's eastern districts through April 1. 

Areas to the west of the Huangpu River will have similar restrictions imposed April 1-5. 

In the meantime, US automaker Tesla is suspending production at its factory in the city for four days, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. 

Tesla, however, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The recent surge of COVID cases in China has added to pressure on the world's second-largest economy, likely further chilling consumer spending. 

Today, China's National Health Commission logged 5,134 new asymptomatic cases for March 27, and 1,219 local confirmed infections.