Epidemic control staff are checking the health codes of travelers at a railway station in Shanghai on January 1, 2022. Photo: VCG

Chinese netizens gave a thumbs up to the country's "precise anti-virus measure" as a 20-square meter milk tea store in downtown Shanghai was upgraded to the latest medium-risk area in China on Thursday night, which netizens joked was the smallest COVID-19 risk area in the world.

Shanghai on Thursday reported two local confirmed COVID-19 cases and three silent carriers that were all related to one imported asymptomatic case reported on Tuesday, Shanghai authorities announced during a press briefing Thursday night. A milk tea store in Shanghai's Jing'an district, where the confirmed patients worked, was swiftly designated as medium-risk level for COVID-19. 

The Global Times found on Friday morning that the milk tea store and its neighboring rice noodle stall which shares the same house number of 288 Yuyuan Road in Jingan district in Shanghai were cordoned off, a hair salon and a China Mobile store on the same road appeared to be operating normally.

"It's well said that Shanghai's COVID-19 prevention and control measures are like catching a mouse in a china shop," a woman whose office is close to the milk tea store told the Global Times, adding "the precise anti-virus battle in Shanghai guaranteed the majority public's normal life and working. I don't feel any panic when there is sporadic outbreak in the city even if it's so close to our home and office, we really trust and appreciate Shanghai government's efforts."

Shanghai is not alone, regions across China are gaining more experience in fighting the epidemic as more "precise target" measures are adopted.