Shanghai people poured into the streets to celebrate the lifting of the blockade

After two months of strict blockade to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, Shanghai officially reopened the city from 00h00 on June 1. The people of this city poured into the streets to celebrate like in big festivals, but somewhere, there were still people who were afraid that the epidemic would return to this city again.

The majority of city dwellers are now free to leave their homes, return to work, and use public transport, which, two months ago, they thought would never come.

At midnight, groups of people gathered in the former French concession, whistling and chanting “blockade is lifted!”. They even raised a glass to congratulate the event.

Before that, the excitement had reappeared. Adults walk, children cycle on streets without cars. The retirees are passionate about street art, wearing their performance costumes for the first time after a long hiatus. They will dance together at shopping malls and along the banks of the Huangpu River.

Shanghai Disneyland, which has not yet reopened, is streaming a light show “celebrating the day Shanghai lifts lockdown”.

Under the street lights, the barbers are still busy working because the number of customers is too large. On the social network WeChat, stores repeatedly announced plans to reopen business.

“My pet dog is very excited because he hasn’t been out in a long time,” said Melody Dong, a Shanghai resident. She looks forward to eating hot pot and grilled meat, dishes that are difficult to prepare at home.

The two-month blockade in Shanghai is the clearest proof of China’s determination to pursue zero Covid. The country aims to cut all chains of infection at all costs, shutting down many cities tightly, even though the rest of the world has returned to normal life.

Strict epidemic prevention regulations in Shanghai and many other localities have significantly affected production, business and people’s lives. The supply chain still has many knots that need to be removed soon.

China says its approach is necessary to save people’s lives and prevent the health system from collapsing.

“Scar”

During the blockade, many people have difficulty accessing food supplies and medical services. Hundreds of families were separated and thousands of people were transferred to concentrated isolation wards.

At factories and offices that remain open, including city government offices, workers must live at work. Many of them have not been able to return home until today.

The blockade order was lifted for about 22.5 million people in low-risk areas. However, people are required to wear masks in public and avoid large gatherings. Dining at restaurants is still prohibited. Stores are only allowed to operate at 75% capacity. The practice room will be allowed to reopen in the near future.

To use public transport and access public places, residents need to present a negative test result within 72 hours. Infected people and close contacts will still be strictly isolated.

“The city government needs to publicly apologize to the people in order to continue to receive their support and improve the relationship between the two sides,” Qu Weiguo, a professor from Fudan University, shared on WeChat. .

On May 31, Shanghai’s largest isolation facility at the National Exhibition Center, discharged the last two patients out of a total of 174,308 positive cases treated here and announced its closure.