China: Shanghai achieves “societal zero Covid” objective

A deserted street in Shanghai on May 17, 2022. AP - Jin Liwang

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

For the third day in a row, community infections remained at zero in Shanghai, a milestone on the road to deconfinement.

Even though the authorities have warned that the full return to normal will take until the end of June.  

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With our correspondent in Beijing,

“Go home!

".

The injunction may seem paradoxical in a city which is slowly emerging from more than a month and a half of confinement.

We have however heard it a lot on videos which circulated this Tuesday on social networks, showing the departure of tens of thousands of women and men "in white" - caregivers, nurses, police, paramilitaries - from other provinces to support the fight against the virus in Shanghai.  

redemption in songs 

A nurse who turns on herself in a PPE suit and films the buses ready to leave does not hide her joy: " 

she says.

 ”.

As with Wuhan in the summer of 2020, the spring 2022 liberation in Shanghai is celebrated on social media with the theme of “ 

 ”.

A redemption in songs, with the return of concert soundtracks and the slogans “

 ” in large red letters broadcast against the backdrop of the glass towers and the

of the Chinese economic capital.

A release is always a moving moment, especially after such a long confinement.

While the majority of Shanghainese remain locked in their residences, some were able to get out and resume trains, buses, taxis, after three days of zero community infections.

pic.twitter.com/WBUqJcKFL9

— Stephane Lagarde (@StephaneLagarde) May 17, 2022

Three figures are to be remembered: 5, 17 and 16. For May 17 and 16 districts of the city which, according to Zhao Dandan, the deputy director of the local health commission, “ 

”.

In other words, Omicron no longer circulates outside controlled areas or hospitals that treat patients.   

Shopping vouchers and limited releases 

The liberation of Shanghai is however not for now.

The authorities recognize that 860,000 people still live in "containment zones", without being able to leave their residence.

For the rest, freedom will remain very relative until June 1st and deconfinement in phases.

► To read also: China: in Shanghai, the discontent of the inhabitants exhausted by the “zero Covid” strategy

Some malls, hair salons, restaurants and supermarkets around residential developments with no Covid-19 cases for 14 days reopened on Monday.

But there again for limited outings: two hours of shopping, no more, sometimes less;

vouchers to access the store at fixed dates and times, and shopping carts capped at 500 yuan (70 euros) in certain hypermarket chains.   

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