The Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center had been cordoned off on Thursday morning, with medical staffers from the local center for disease control and prevention and epidemiological investigation personal working on site. Photo: Yang Hui/GT 

Two top-tiered hospitals in Shanghai — Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — have suspended outpatient services in their downtown branches on Thursday for COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control reasons after two suspected COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday and Thursday at the two hospitals. 

A Global Times reporter found on Thursday morning that the cancer center had been cordoned off, and the entire area surrounding the Renji Hospital, including residential compounds, had been put into lockdown, with medical staffers from the local center for disease control and prevention and epidemiological investigation personal working on site. 

According to a notice issued by Renji Hospital on Thursday, one suspicious test result for COVID-19 was found during regular nucleic acid testing on medical staff and outsourced supporting personnel at its downtown branch (western division) on Shandong Road Middle in Huangpu district. 

On Wednesday, the cancer center also reported a suspected COVID-19 case found during regular nucleic acid testing organized by the center in its downtown branch on Dongan Road in Xuhui district. 

Both hospitals are well-known around China with patients from all across the country. Statistics from the cancer center's official website show that its outpatient visits reached 1.57 million in 2019. 

According to the epidemic prevention and control requirements, further clinical examinations and laboratory reviews will be carried out on the two persons, and investigations and epidemiological investigations will be carried out among relevant personnel. The follow-up results will be released to the public in a timely manner.