Despite China's strict policy of isolating all positive patients and close contacts, Shanghai's final escape from a painful five-week lockdown is being delayed by continuing Covid-19 infections in the community.

While the total number of cases in the financial district continues to decline – 4,982 illnesses were confirmed on Tuesday, down from 5,669 on Monday – community spread persists. After briefly falling to zero late last week, the count has risen to above 50 every day this month.

Shanghai authorities had indicated that the lockdown would remain until community transmission approached zero – a similar course to that pursued in Jilin province in the northeast, where a lockdown gradually eased when community transmission ceased.

By May 2, over 2.54 million of Shanghai's approximately 25 million residents remained under the harshest kind of lockdown, officials said during a briefing Tuesday. The city will continue mass testing through May 7, utilizing PCR and fast antigen tests.

Beijing, which is going to great efforts to contain a fledgling outbreak to avoid the social and economic upheaval seen in Shanghai, reported 51 cases on Tuesday, down from 62 on Monday.

Officials advised residents on Tuesday not to leave the city unnecessarily, with only those with green health codes and a negative Covid test within 48 hours permitted to go. Schools will cease in-person classes between May 5 and 11, with districts preparing for online instruction.

Residents of areas classified as medium or high risk, residents of regulated zones, and residents of towns or villages with one or more infections are not permitted to leave the city, officials stated during a briefing.

The city previously suspended dining in restaurants for the May Day vacation, which runs through Wednesday, required visitors to parks and monuments to pass a Covid test, and closed gyms.

Additionally, authorities have locked down apartment complexes, requiring some inhabitants to remain inside their houses and refrain from going out for groceries or exercise. They have ordered another three rounds of mass testing.