Shanghai to resume normal production and life from June 1

People enjoy a moment of leisure at the Bund area in Shanghai on May 28, 2022 as the city recovers from a prolonged COVID outbreak. [Photo/IC]

Shanghai will fully restore production and daily life will return to normal starting on Wednesday, the city government announced on Tuesday.

Residents in low-risk areas should not be prevented from leaving and entering the communities they live in, noted Zong Ming, vice-mayor of Shanghai, during a press briefing.

Shopping malls, supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and farm produce markets will restore offline business in accordance with epidemic control protocols.

Postal and courier services are free to reopen their disposal centers and terminal outlets, and restore delivery of personalized products gradually.

"Starting from Wednesday, grade-A tourist spots will be reopened with reservation requirements and limits to tourist numbers. Parks will also be opened but operational hours must be staggered and visitor numbers limited," said Zong.

Indoor public venues, including cinemas, theaters, museums, and gymnasiums, will not resume operations at this stage, she added.

Public transport in the city, including buses, metro lines and ferries, will resume full operations. Taxis and vehicles engaged in online hailing services can also resume operations.

"Private cars from low-risk areas can also be on the road and travel across all the city's 16 districts," said Xing Peiyi, chief traffic police officer at the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

Train services to and from Shanghai will also resume normal operations.

"The passenger capacity rates on international flights departing Shanghai will be allowed to increase, and the number of domestic flights leaving and arriving in Shanghai at its two airports will be increased gradually as well," said Liu Bin, deputy director of the Shanghai Transport Commission.

The authorities reiterated that all the individuals entering public venues and taking public transport must produce a negative result for nucleic acid test taken within 72 hours prior to entry.

"The number of daily infections has decreased to two digits, and the population in lockdown communities has shrunk to fewer than 200,000. The epidemic wave has been brought under control effectively and the situation continues to improve," she said.

Shanghai registered nine COVID-19 confirmed cases and 22 asymptomatic infections on Monday. All infections were found in quarantine and lockdown populations.