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STORY: Shanghai entered a two-stage lockdown Monday (March 28) as the financial hub of 26 million people scrambles to contain surging COVID-19 cases.

The snap lockdown, which was announced on Sunday (March 27), will split the city in two roughly along the Huangpu River for nine days to allow for "staggered" testing.

It's the biggest COVID-related disruption to hit the city.

While residents east of the Huangpu were confined to their homes, those in the west stockpiled groceries and other essential goods as they prepared for a similar fate starting on April 1st.

This shopper at a Shanghai wet market said there's nothing left and they're at a loss for what to do.

The lockdown order marks a turnaround for Shanghai's authorities, which as late as Saturday (March 26) denied the city would be locked down.

Shanghai's Public Security Bureau said it was closing cross-river bridges and tunnels, and highway tollbooths concentrated in the city's east until Friday (April 1) and people leaving the city would have to show a negative test taken within the previous 48 hours.

Shanghai also ordered the suspension of work at firms and factories, exempting those offering public services or supplying food.

Some hospitals also suspended services as they release staff and other resources to assist with mass testing.

Shanghai said earlier this month that its daily testing capacity was around 3 million, but some doctors warned it still might not be enough to outpace the rapid spread of the virus.