U.S. closely monitoring COVID lockdown in Shanghai, White House says

FILE PHOTO: Medical workers in protective suits stand next to a line of residents waiting to take nucleic acid test at a locked down residential area, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Shanghai, China April 7, 2022. Picture taken April 7, 2022. REUTERS/David Stanway

The Biden administration is closely monitoring a coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai that could cause delays to air cargo, White house press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.

Shanghai on Friday announced a record 21,000 new COVID-19 cases and a third consecutive day of COVID testing as a lockdown of its 26 million people showed no sign of easing and other Chinese cities tightened curbs - even in places with no recent infections.

FILE PHOTO: White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 6, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Leslie Adler)