A new type of the "Omicron" variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Shanghai, China, indicating the complications the country faces in dealing with new mutated strains while striving for a "zero COVID" policy. Zhao Dandan, deputy director of the Shanghai Health Commission, stated that "the new variant was detected in a case in the financial district of Pudong on July 8, linked to a case coming from abroad."
Zhao warned, saying, "Our city has been recording more locally transmitted positive cases of COVID-19 recently, and the risk of the virus spreading in the community remains very high," according to Reuters. He also added that "residents in many key areas of Shanghai will undergo two rounds of COVID-19 testing from July 12 to 14, in an effort to control the potential new outbreak of the disease."
