Fengxian district, a suburban area in southern Shanghai, entered a “quiet period” on Monday, with permits for residents to leave their compounds suspended and shops and supermarkets closed except for delivery, the Shanghai Media Group reported.
Workers at one supermarket filled bags with celery, cooking oil and other groceries in a designated area, where delivery persons picked them up. Xie Yu, the manager, said the store is also trying to restock goods in high demand. "When offline sales are resumed, customers will be able to buy what they need immediately,” he said.
Escape from Shanghai is all but impossible, but that didn't stop an unofficial how-to guide — detailing how to navigate lockdown controls and nab a seat on the few trains and planes leaving the city — from circulating widely on social media. Many in the city of 25 million people shared their frustrations over the renewed restrictions in chat groups.
The daily number of new cases in Shanghai had fallen to about 3,000 by Monday, down from a peak of 26,000 in mid-April. Six more COVID-19-related deaths were reported, raising the toll from the outbreak to 553.
Meanwhile, Beijing began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak in the nation's capital from growing to Shanghai proportions. The city, which recorded 74 new cases on Monday, has locked down individual buildings and residential compounds, shut about 60 subway stations and banned dining at restaurants, allowing only takeout and delivery.
The outbreak has not exploded but it also has not stopped spreading. Beijing spokesperson Xu Hejian described the situation Tuesday as a “stalemate” and said the city needs to continue its strict measures.
While traffic is sparse in Beijing, it is almost non-existent in Shanghai, where the lockdown has been going on longer and is citywide. AP video shot Monday showed a silent and deserted city, with only a very occasional vehicle and a few food delivery drivers on scooters moving down empty roads. Most people are confined to their apartments or residential complexes, though there has been some easing in outlying suburban areas without new cases in their communities.
But notices issued in several Shanghai districts in recent days ordered residents to stay home and barred them from receiving nonessential deliveries as part of a "quiet period" lasting until Wednesday or longer. The measures could be extended depending on the results of mass testing, the notices said. The sudden re-tightening took residents by surprise.
Shanghai official Jin Chen appeared to acknowledge Tuesday the complaints about the disinfecting of people's homes, thanking them for their cooperation and saying the government would analyze and fix any problems. He said that residents can inform the teams about any items that need protection.
“Carrying out household disinfection is an important part of the overall epidemic prevention and control,” he told a daily virus news conference.
A constitutional law professor, Tong Zhiwei, posted an article recently calling for Shanghai to end what he called “excessive pandemic prevention measures" such as quarantining residents and forcing them to surrender their house keys, saying the requirements contravene the rule of law.
The article has been removed from the internet as the government censors criticism of its response.
Thousands of people have been forced into quarantine centers after testing positive or having been in contact with an infected person, standard procedure in China's zero-COVID approach.
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Associated Press researchers Si Chen in Shanghai and Yu Bing in Beijing and video producer Caroline Chen in Guangzhou, China, contributed to this report.
CaptionVisitors look out from a balcony in a quiet mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption Visitors look out from a balcony in a quiet mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A delivery worker wearing a face shield and a mask asks for a direction from a security guard near a shuttered mall in the central business district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption A delivery worker wearing a face shield and a mask asks for a direction from a security guard near a shuttered mall in the central business district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption A child wearing a mask is carried over a barrier on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A child wearing a mask is carried over a barrier on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption Residents leave after being turned away from a public park which was closed due to pandemic measures in the Chaoyang district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption Residents leave after being turned away from a public park which was closed due to pandemic measures in the Chaoyang district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption A man wearing a face mask walks across a pedestrian bridge in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A man wearing a face mask walks across a pedestrian bridge in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A chef sits outside a row of restaurants closed to dine in customers and only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A chef sits outside a row of restaurants closed to dine in customers and only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A child wearing a face mask walks by a shuttered shopping mall after authorities ordered the closure of non-essential businesses and asked people to work at home in the Chaoyang district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption A child wearing a face mask walks by a shuttered shopping mall after authorities ordered the closure of non-essential businesses and asked people to work at home in the Chaoyang district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption A man wearing a face mask walks past lines of unused share bicycles near a closed subway station in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A man wearing a face mask walks past lines of unused share bicycles near a closed subway station in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption Residents leave after being turned away from Ritan park which was closed due to pandemic measures in the Chaoyang district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption Residents leave after being turned away from Ritan park which was closed due to pandemic measures in the Chaoyang district on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Credit: Andy Wong
Credit: Andy Wong
Caption A woman talks on her phone near a screen depicting a giant hand at an empty mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A woman talks on her phone near a screen depicting a giant hand at an empty mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A delivery man waits in a quiet mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A delivery man waits in a quiet mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A man tries to enter a restaurant that's closed to dine-in customers and only providing take out orders on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A man tries to enter a restaurant that's closed to dine-in customers and only providing take out orders on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption People wearing face masks ride across an intersection in the central business district of Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Teams in white protective suits are going into the homes of infected people to spray them with disinfectant as Shanghai tries to root out an omicron outbreak under China's strict "zero-COVID" strategy. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption People wearing face masks ride across an intersection in the central business district of Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Teams in white protective suits are going into the homes of infected people to spray them with disinfectant as Shanghai tries to root out an omicron outbreak under China's strict "zero-COVID" strategy. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A man wearing a mask walks past a mall that's been ordered to close on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A man wearing a mask walks past a mall that's been ordered to close on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A woman wearing a face mask stands near a closed subway station in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A woman wearing a face mask stands near a closed subway station in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A woman wearing a face mask rides along a street in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A woman wearing a face mask rides along a street in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A man wears a respirator as he rides along a street in the central business district in Beijing, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A man wears a respirator as he rides along a street in the central business district in Beijing, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A person wearing a face mask rides along a street in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Teams in white protective suits are going into the homes of infected people to spray them with disinfectant as Shanghai tries to root out an omicron outbreak under China's strict "zero-COVID" strategy. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A person wearing a face mask rides along a street in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Teams in white protective suits are going into the homes of infected people to spray them with disinfectant as Shanghai tries to root out an omicron outbreak under China's strict "zero-COVID" strategy. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption Residents wearing masks line up for mass Covid testing on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption Residents wearing masks line up for mass Covid testing on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Credit: Ng Han Guan
Caption A person wearing a face mask rides across an intersection in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Caption A person wearing a face mask rides across an intersection in the central business district in Beijing during what is normally the morning rush hour, as most nonessential workers in the district have been ordered to work from home, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. China's capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
Credit: Mark Schiefelbein
