Health authorities in Shanghai have introduced the city's measures to deal with the latest COVID outbreak. Chen Tong has more.

Flanked by two commercial complexes, this neighborhood used to be one of the most crowded areas in Shanghai.

CHEN TONG Shanghai "During the past week, several COVID cases have been reported nearby – residential communities and shopping malls in the area were put under 48-hour quarantine for screenings. Fewer cars and fewer people are showing up here."

The latest policies of the Shanghai government have seen so-called dynamic COVID screenings in recent days. Not all the communities city-wide are under lockdown for screenings, but rather, one batch followed by another. Once two rounds of tests done during the 48 hours show negative results, lockdown of the residential compounds will be lifted. And such policies, authorities say, have helped them detect more positive cases.

WU JINGLEI Director of Shanghai Health Commission "This round of screenings, which began on March 16, has shown that COVID cases have gathered regionally. We also found some hidden infections and transmissions. These have shown that our screenings are rapid, crucial and urgent, which laid a good foundation for us to cut the transmission chain."

So far, some residential compounds have re-opened and people are free to go out. Some are still waiting, as COVID cases have been reported there. Most residents in the locked-communities say their daily lives have not been affected much.

"My life hasn't been impacted too much. Though we are not allowed to go out, we can pick up our food deliveries and fresh food at the compound entrance. And we work from home."

"We can order food and it's convenient. We should just cooperate with the prevention measures – do tests and protect ourselves."

The Shanghai health commission said virus prevention measures and lockdowns will vary, depending on the risk levels in different regions. Starting today, Shanghai will provide a free COVID test for all residents in low-risk areas. But officials have reiterated that such areas will not be locked down. CHEN TONG, CGTN, SHANGHAI.