AsiaOne has launched EarthOne, a new section dedicated to environmental issues because we love the planet and we believe science. Find articles like this there. SHENZHEN, China – Several regions of China including the major southwestern city of Chongqing baked in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday (Aug 13), while the country's national observatory continued its red alert.
Several regions of China including the major southwestern city of Chongqing baked in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 fahrenheit) on Saturday
climbing case load. on saturday shanghai reported nearly 25,000 cases another daily high. right now all 25 million residents, yes, all of them, are under lockdown. the easing of restrictions would be tied to mass testing. areas of low transmission would be granted more freedom. joining us now from hong kong, you ve been following all of this. any kind of easing of restrictions seems to be predicated on that mass testing. is this at all a change in china s zero covid approach or really specific to what they see in that testing and not a change in policy at all? reporter: paula, we just don t know. is the short answer. the reason being that officials have been only said that there could be an easing of restrictions after the next round of mass testing but they ve given no further details. no timeline. i mean perhaps they are listening to the residents, 25
including attorney general merrick garland and the commerce secretary gina raymundo. the concern now is who of the 67 were in fact in proximity to president biden and if he ll eventually test positive as well. his top covid adviser dr. anthony fauci says it s possible. precautions are in place. it is conceivable that the president will get infected given the fact that the people who are on one-to-one close contacts with him are all tested before they re with the president. number two that about 99% of the white house complex staff are vaccinated and the president himself is vaccinated and double boosted. now to the covid outbreak in shanghai where residents may get some eagerly anticipated news. officials may in fact begin easing restrictions. that is despite the city s