China's largest city Shanghai reported three deaths from Covid-19 on Monday ― the first from the coronavirus since it entered lockdown in late March.
The eastern city's health commission said the victims were aged between 89 and 91 and unvaccinated.
They “deteriorated into severe cases after going into hospital and died after all efforts to revive them proved ineffective”, the city said on an official social media account.
All three had underlying health conditions, it said.
The municipal health commission confirmed the deaths.
Shanghai officials said only 38 per cent of residents over 60 are fully vaccinated.
Since the discovery of an Omicron-led outbreak three weeks ago, the city has been under strict lockdown. This has led to rare protests by residents.
Restriction orders have kept most of Shanghai's 25 million residents confined to their homes or residential compounds, with daily caseloads edging over 25,000.
The city has converted exhibition halls and schools into quarantine centres and set up makeshift hospitals.
Many residents have complained of food shortages, basic quarantine conditions and heavy-handed enforcement.
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A medical worker administers a nucleic acid test to a client at a private outdoor clinic in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Getty -
While China has contained the spread of Covid-19 and though cases remain relatively low nationally, a recent outbreak in Xian, Shaanxi province, has caused the government to reinforce stricter health measures, including lockdowns, in Beijing. Getty -
Nationwide mask mandates, mass testing, vaccine booster doses, quarantines and some travel restrictions have become the norm under China’s zero-Covid policy. Getty -
A medical worker stands in protective equipment as a client registers for a test at the outdoor clinic. Getty -
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a man for nucleic acid testing at a residential compound in Xi’an. Reuters -
Residents queue for Covid-19 tests in the city. AFP -
Security guards patrol an area of Xi’an that is under restrictions after the recent coronavirus outbreak. AFP -
People queue outside a pagoda at a mass testing centre in the city. Reuters -
Protective gear is worn at the entrance of university accommodation that is under lockdown. Reuters
Residents have had to order food and water and wait for government drop-offs of supplies. Analysts have said many are running low on basics.
The lockdown extension has overwhelmed delivery services, grocery shop websites and even the distribution of government supplies.
Shanghai reported 22,248 new domestic cases on Monday, according to the municipal health commission.
China has recently struggled to contain outbreaks in multiple regions, largely driven by the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
The country last reported Covid-19 deaths on March 19 — two people in the north-eastern province of Jilin. Those were China's first confirmed coronavirus deaths in more than a year.
Agencies have contributed to his report.
