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Shanghai announced on Sunday that it would be lifting 2 different COVID-19 lockdowns this week, while Beijing officially opened parts of its public transportation, malls, gyms, and other venues as infections stabilized. The Chinese commercial district of 25 million people hopes to essentially end a lockdown that has severely harmed the economy and caused many Shanghai residents to lose income, struggle to find food, and cope mentally with prolonged isolation on Wednesday.
The painful coronavirus curbs in major Chinese cities run contrary to global trends, which have largely shifted toward coexistence with the virus even as infections spread.
Shanghai, China’s most populated metropolitan, will ease testing requirements for people wishing to enter public areas beginning Wednesday, according to municipal government spokeswoman Yin Xin, who added that the changes should encourage work resumption.
“The city’s current epidemic situation will continue to stabilize and improve,” Yin said, adding that Shanghai’s strategy is now “pivoting toward normalized prevention and control.”
People entering public places or taking public transportation will be required to show a negative PCR proctored exam within 72 hours, rather than 48 hours previously.
Bus services within the Pudong New Area, which includes Shanghai’s largest airport and the primary financial district, will be fully restored by Monday, according to officials.
On Sunday, Plaza 66, an upscale mall in central Shanghai that houses Louis Vuitton and other luxury brands, reopened.
Authorities have gradually eased restrictions, with the goal of resuming manufacturing.
More people have been allowed to leave their apartments, and more businesses have been allowed to reopen, though many residents remain largely confined to their residential compounds, and most shops are only open for deliveries.
The authorities have approved 240 banking firms in the city for reopening on Wednesday, according to the state-run Shanghai Securities News, adding to a list of 864 firms published this month. This is out of the approximately 1,700 financial firms in Shanghai.
On Saturday, the newspaper reported that the more than 10,000 bankers and traders who had been living and working in their offices since the lockdown began were gradually returning home.
Since late April, Shanghai has allowed key manufacturers in the automotive, life sciences, chemicals, and semiconductor industries to resume production.
LIBRARIES AND GYMS
Libraries, museums, theatres, and gyms in Beijing’s capital were permitted to reopen on Sunday, with population limits, in districts where there had been no community COVID cases for seven days.
Work-from-home rules will be lifted in Fangshan and Shunyi, while public transportation will be restored in the districts as well as Chaoyang, the city’s largest. Restaurant dining is still prohibited throughout the city.
On Sunday, Shanghai reported now over 100 daily COVID cases, while Beijing reported 21, both reflecting a nationwide decline.
Following April’s slump, China’s economy has shown signs of reviving this month, but activity levels are lower than last year, and many analysts predict a second-quarter contraction.
