First Covid deaths in Shanghai as China rules out easing curbs till CPC meet to elect Xi for 3rd term

Shanghai reported three deaths due to Covid-19, the first in the financial hub after it was hit by the Omicron variant last month, while a top official ruled out relaxing the curbs until the ruling Communist Party Congress met later this year to elect Chinese President Xi Jinping for a record third term in power.

The deceased were two females and one male, aged between 89 and 91. They suffered from comorbidities, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, the city's municipal health commission reported on Sunday. None of them was vaccinated against Covid-19, it said. By the end of Sunday, Shang hai had 16 Covid patients in severe condition receiving treatment in designated hospitals.