After two months of despair and great financial loss, the draconian lockdown in Shanghai ended at midnight (local time), spreading relief to residents amid concerns that they may face another new Covid-19 outbreak in the future.
Most of the 25 million people in China’s big cities can now leave home freely, return to work, use public transportation, drive their cars – a time that to some seemed like it would never come.
When the clock struck midnight, groups of people began to celebrate, shouting “lifting the ban” and opening champagnes. The streets came to life again, with some going out for picnics, children riding bicycles, retirees dancing and the squares filled with people.
Disneyland in Shanghai, which has not yet announced when it will reopen, was illuminated to celebrate the lifting of the lockdown in the cosmopolitan city of China.
The barbers worked in the lighted streets, to treat their customers outdoors. On the social networking platform WeChat, stores have begun to announce their reopening.
“I took my dog ​​for a walk and he’s excited, because it’s been a long time since he went out,” said Melody Dong, who was looking forward to tasting treats that are difficult to prepare at home.
According to experts, the harsh test that the people of Shanghai underwent is a clear indication that the Covid zero-tolerance policy pursued by the Chinese government is not sustainable, when most of the world is trying to return to normalcy despite the ongoing infections.
The lack of a roadmap for the exit from an approach that is increasingly challenged by the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus has caused great concern to investors and entrepreneurs.
Strict restrictions imposed on Shanghai and other Chinese cities have dealt a major blow to the world’s second-largest economy and disrupted international supply chains, although the situation has improved since some measures were eased in April.
Beijing says strict management of the pandemic – which bears the stamp of President Xi Jinping – is necessary to save lives and prevent the collapse of the national health system.
During these two months of the lockdown in Shanghai, residents struggled to meet their nutritional needs or receive medical care. Families were separated and hundreds of thousands of people were forced into solitary confinement.
Residents are required to wear masks in public places and to avoid gatherings. The restaurants are open only for “take away”, the shops open with restrictions on the maximum number of allowed customers, while the gyms will open later.
At the same time, Shanghai residents will have to be tested every 72 hours in order to use public transport and visit public places.
During the two-month lockdown, there were unprecedented protests in Shanghai, with desperate residents knocking on pots and pans from the windows of their homes.
Hours before the lockdown was lifted, the largest isolation center – a 50,000-bed facility at the National Exhibition and Convention Center – evacuated the last two Covid-19 patients from the 174,308 housed there.
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