Shanghai is slowly stirring awake after weeks of strict pandemic controls, with residents stepping outside for the first time in months as daily COVID-19 cases drop. The city reported under 1,000 new infections this week, marking a turning point in its latest outbreak.
Pudong New Area Leads Reopening
Student Zhao Chenyi captured the cautious optimism in her neighborhood through a vlog posted on May 16, the day her Pudong community lifted time-limited outdoor access. Footage shows masked residents queuing at bakeries and convenience stores, with workers disinfecting public spaces hourly.
Phased Business Recovery
Authorities are prioritizing supermarkets, pharmacies, and logistics centers, requiring all reopened businesses to implement 'closed-loop' systems where employees live on-site. 'It's surreal to see people cycling down the streets again,' Zhao told followers, noting that 60% of shops in her district now accept in-person customers.
While public transport remains suspended, blue delivery robots now outnumber pedestrians in some areas. The city plans to resume subway services and allow mall reopenings by June 1 if cases remain low.
Balancing Act Continues
Residents still require negative PCR tests to enter most venues, and 72-hour testing booths now dot street corners. Experts warn the recovery could take months, with many white-collar workers still remote. Yet for Zhao and millions of Shanghai residents, the quiet hum of returning life signals hope. 'We know it's fragile,' she says, 'but today feels like spring finally arrived.'
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What the streets of Shanghai are like as COVID-19 cases drop
cgtn.com
