US orders consular staff to leave Shanghai amid Covid-19 surge

Many residents in the city of 26 million have been confined to their homes for up to three weeks.

The US has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a Covid-19 surge (Chen Si/AP)

The US has ordered all non-emergency consular staff to leave Shanghai, which is under a tight lockdown to contain a surge in Covid-19 infections.

The US State Department said the order is an upgrade from the “authorised” departure issued last week that made the decision voluntary.