Photo: A Shanghai hospital conducts COVID-19 nucleic acid testing on its medical personnel on January 21, 2021. Photo: Yang Hui/GT 

Shanghai reported suspected local COVID-19 cases on Friday afternoon after six local cases were detected on Thursday, according to the social media account of the municipal government.

Shanghai's Baoshan district reported that suspected COVID-19 cases were found during the nucleic acid tests conducted on Friday.

Clinical and lab checks have been arranged and contact tracing within the community where the suspected case is located has started, in line with the COVID-19 prevention policy in Shanghai.

Shanghai found six local confirmed COVID-19 cases in its most populous downtown Huangpu district on Thursday, two months since the last local cases were reported in the city. With the latest suspect case in Baoshan, two districts out of the city's 16 districts have recently reported coronavirus infections. 

Once this flare-up was discovered, Shanghai took quick response measures to curb the possible spread of the coronavirus. Shanghai infectious disease expert Zhang Wenhong told the Thursday media conference that the city is confident it can control the spread of COVID-19. 

Hospitals citywide conducted mass nucleic acid tests on all medical staff starting Thursday; schools and kindergartens cancelled the previously-arranged campus-returning activities on Friday and bookstores in Huangpu suspended their operations. 

Local nursery homes for senior citizens have had visits by family members suspended, and negative nucleic acid certificates are now required if essential visits are needed.

The city's public transportation systems including subways and buses have strengthened disinfection and taxi companies have also emphasized their anti-COVID-19 measures. 

The general public has been urged to avoid unnecessary trips and keep social distancing, mask wearing and other hygienic habits to protect themselves from the coronavirus.