Shanghai embarks on road to recovery following lockdown

Cross-river transportation resumed since Wednesday in Shanghai. [Photo by Gao Erqiang / chinadaily.com.cn]

Life returned to the streets of Shanghai on Wednesday as the city lifted most epidemic control measures in low-risk communities and allowed many businesses to resume operations.

People were evidently eager to get out onto the streets after a lockdown that spanned over two months, as many could be seen strolling at the city's landmarks, including the Bund and the Pudong riverside, in the early morning.

The sounding of the famous bell tower at the Bund at midnight was joined by the sounds of car horns as drivers celebrated the new beginning.

Even before the new day started, police officers had removed isolation barriers between districts and all tunnels and bridges linking the two sides of the Huangpu River were opened. 

The city's public transportation system, including bus, metro and ferry services, has resumed full operations as well.

Xiong Xiong, the person in charge of the People's Square metro station, one of the largest transfer stations in the city, said that peak passenger flow on Wednesday morning was about one third of the usual and the metro operation is smooth.

Many venues in the city now require visitors to show proof that they had undergone a nucleic acid test which returned negative within the 72 hours prior to entry.

According to Zhao Dandan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, around 15,000 nucleic acid sampling sites, of which about 5,000 are accessible to the public, are currently operational in the city.

The city's Party committee and the government on Wednesday expressed gratitude to those who have been involved in the latest fight against the virus in a public letter.

Streets in Shanghai are busy again on June 1 as the city returns to normal after a prolonged lockdown due to a COVID outbreak. [Photo/IC]

It also extended thanks to national departments, provinces, cities and districts from across the country, as well as the military, for the assistance they provided to the city. The authorities also thanked all citizens for their support.

Shanghai had reported over 600,000 COVID-19 infections in the latest outbreak. Daily new infections peaked on April 13 at 27,719 and the city achieved zero-COVID outside controlled and lockdown zones on May 17.

The city reported five COVID-19 local confirmed cases and 10 asymptomatic infections on Tuesday.

Customers enjoy their time at the Bund Financial Center in downtown Shanghai on June 1, 2022. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/chinadaily.com.cn]