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Shanghai eases COVID-19 curbs in step towards ending lockdown

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A boy takes a COVID-19 at a makeshift testing booth prior to a lockdown lifting in Shanghai, China, May 31, 2022. The Shanghai Government on May 30 announced the lifting of most restrictions starting June 1, 2022. All residents will be able to leave their compounds freely without using any passes, except those living in medium and high-risk areas. Inner-city public transportation and taxis will also resume operation. Residents will be allowed to move freely using their own vehicles, however, they will still need to submit an application to authorities in order to leave the city. Alex Plavevski, EPA-EFE " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/overseas/06/01/swab-test-shanghai-china-epa-efe.jpg"/><figcaption>A boy takes a COVID-19 at a makeshift testing booth prior to a lockdown lifting in Shanghai, China, May 31, 2022. The Shanghai Government on May 30 announced the lifting of most restrictions starting June 1, 2022. All residents will be able to leave their compounds freely without using any passes, except those living in medium and high-risk areas. Inner-city public transportation and taxis will also resume operation. Residents will be allowed to move freely using their own vehicles, however, they will still need to submit an application to authorities in order to leave the city. <em>Alex Plavevski, EPA-EFE </em></figcaption></figure></div><p> <br/>SHANGHAI — Shanghai eased a range of COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday in a step towards returning to normal after a 2-month lockdown that confined residents of the megacity to their homes and battered China&#x27;s economy.</p><p>The commercial hub of 25 million people was closed down in sections from late March, when the omicron virus variant fueled China&#x27;s worst outbreak since COVID first took hold in 2020.</p><p>After some rules were gradually relaxed over the past few weeks, authorities on Wednesday began allowing residents in areas deemed low-risk to move around the city freely.</p><p>&quot;This is a moment that we have been looking forward to for a long time,&quot; the Shanghai municipal government said in a statement on social media.</p><p>&quot;Because of the impact of the epidemic, Shanghai, a megacity, entered an unprecedented period of silence.&quot;</p><p>On Wednesday morning, people were seen travelling on Shanghai&#x27;s subway and heading to office buildings, while some shops were preparing to open.</p><p>A day earlier, bright yellow barriers that had hemmed in buildings and city blocks for weeks were taken down in many areas.</p><p>The restrictions had hammered the economy of the city, snarling supply chains in China and abroad, and signs of resentment among residents emerged throughout the lockdown.</p><p>Deputy Mayor Zong Ming told reporters Tuesday that the easing will impact about 22 million people in the city.</p><p>Malls, convenience stores, pharmacies and beauty salons will be allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity, while parks and other scenic spots will gradually reopen, she added. </p><p>But cinemas and gyms remain closed, and schools -- shut since mid-March -- will slowly reopen on a voluntary basis.</p><p>Buses, subway and ferry services will also resume, transport officials said.</p><p>Taxi services and private cars will also be allowed in low-risk areas, permitting people to visit friends and family outside their district.</p><div><strong>NOT NORMAL YET</strong></div><p>But the city government warned that the situation was not yet normal.</p><p>&quot;At present, there is still no room for relaxation in consolidating the achievements of epidemic prevention and control,&quot; it said.</p><p>China has persisted with a zero-COVID strategy, which involves rapid lockdowns, mass testing and long quarantines to try and completely eliminate infections.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/02/22/shanghai-residents-sent-out-of-city-during-crackdown">&#x27;No choice&#x27;: Shanghai residents sent out of city during COVID crackdown</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/11/22/who-says-chinas-zero-covid-strategy-unsustainable">WHO says China’s zero-COVID strategy unsustainable</a></li></ul><p>But the economic costs of that policy have mounted, and the Shanghai government said Wednesday that &quot;the task of accelerating economic and social recovery is becoming increasingly urgent&quot;.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/26/22/china-premier-issues-warning-on-covid-hit-economy">China premier issues warning on COVID-hit economy</a></li></ul><p>E-commerce professional Chen Ying said ahead of the easing that she still planned to work from home but might treat her 2-year-old son to a long-awaited walk outside.</p><p>&quot;We should have been free to begin with, so don&#x27;t expect me to be deeply grateful now they&#x27;ve given it back to us,&quot; she told AFP.</p><p>Factories and businesses were also set to restart work after being dormant for weeks.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/24/22/1600-pinoys-in-shanghai-cant-vote-due-to-lockdowns">1,600 Pinoys in Shanghai unable to vote due to COVID-19 lockdowns</a></li></ul><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1992099" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Shanghai eased a range of COVID-19 restrictions in a step towards returning to normal after a 2-month lockdown.