Genetic sequencing has shown no stronger novel coronavirus variants in Shanghai in its latest resurgence of the pandemic, said a municipal health official at a press briefing on Sunday.

"On May 7, 2022, Shanghai reported 215 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,760 asymptomatic ones. Of the 215 locally confirmed cases, 80 were reported in areas under closed-loop management and 135 were re-categorized as confirmed ones from the asymptomatic cases. Of the 3,760 domestic asymptomatic cases, 3,749 were found in areas under closed-loop management and 11 in relevant risk groups," Zhao Dandan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, told the media.

"A total of 941 locally confirmed cases in the city were discharged from hospital and 9,839 asymptomatic cases from medical observation yesterday after recovery. They will return to their residential areas for health monitoring. In addition, as of 9 a.m. on May 8, a total of 779,404 close contacts had been found in Shanghai, all of whom have been put under quarantine," said Zhao.

The official said sequencing of the virus showed the main variants in Shanghai are still Omicron.

"Shanghai has been continuously conducting genetic sequencing of the novel coronavirus samples and sequencing results show that the genetic types of the virus of the infected people recently reported in Shanghai are mainly Omicron BA.2 and BA.2.2 variants, and no new variant with stronger infectivity has been found so far," said the director.

(Source: CCTV Plus)