Shanghai has no plans to impose a citywide lockdown despite the spike in new COVID-19 infections, the Shanghai health authority reiterated on Wednesday in response to rumors circulating on social media on Tuesday night.

The city reported 981 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, with 977 of them being asymptomatic, the municipal government announced on Wednesday.

Wu Jinglei, director of municipal health commission, said that the lockdown of many subdistricts and residential compounds have already been lifted following grid screening.

"Based on the testing results, we will continue to conduct grid screening tests in certain subdistricts from Wednesday to Thursday," he said.

"We urge citizens to not believe and spread rumors. Those who spread rumors maliciously to create social panic will face legal consequences."

As the number of asymptomatic cases has been on the rise, the government has turned some sports stadiums in Minhang and Jiading districts into quarantine facilities to accommodate COVID-19 patients with minor symptoms, according to Wu.

Wu Fan, a member of the expert team leading the Shanghai COVID-19 prevention and control efforts, said that while it is understandable that lockdowns bring inconvenience and even distress to affected residents, those sharing COVID-19 testing notices online should "make clear of the premises of the notice, so as not to mislead others and upset others".