Shanghai - 26 million residents of Shanghai was ordered on Sunday to undergo two more rounds of tests for COVID-19, as China's most populous city is tackling a record coronavirus surge amid growing anger from public on the handling of the crisis by the authorities.

Residents should self-test on Sunday using antigen kits and report any positive results, Shanghai government officials told a news conference. A nucleic acid test would also be conducted citywide on Monday.

Shanghai's lockdown has massively disrupted daily life and businesses, even as healthcare workers and volunteers work round the clock trying to test the entire population and supply residents with groceries.

China's COVID caseload, low by international standards, however spikes are reported in places like Shanghai. The city is testing its previously successful approach of stamping out the virus through strict curbs and aggressive testing and tracing.

Shanghai on Sunday reported 7,788 daily locally transmitted asymptomatic cases, up from 6,501 the day before, while symptomatic cases rose to 438 from 260.

The city accounted for the bulk of mainland China's 11,781 daily locally transmitted asymptomatic cases and nearly one-third of its 1,506 symptomatic cases.

-Reuters