Nearly two-thirds of Japanese firms that operate factories in Shanghai are unable to resume operations there due to the city's strict coronavirus lockdown.

The Shanghai Japanese Commerce & Industry Club surveyed 54 Japanese firms with plants in the Chinese economic hub in late April.

About 60 percent said that they could not resume even limited operations.

Nearly a third said that production was at or below 30 percent of normal levels.

Many of the firms pointed out that there are logistics and manpower problems that need to be addressed before they can restart operations.

One is the soaring cost of transport caused by a severe shortage of truck drivers, many of whom have been forced to stay at home.

Another difficulty is the challenge of getting workers on site due to restrictions on people's movements, particularly for plants without dormitory facilities.

City authorities have listed more than 1,800 Chinese and foreign businesses that are to be given priority when it comes time to get operations underway.

Coronavirus case numbers have been falling in recent days after surging to record highs. However, the city reported more than 4,000 new infections on Thursday.