In Shanghai, an easing of health restrictions after two months of confinement

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

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

After two months of strict confinement, the city of Shanghai is about to reopen.

The Chinese economic capital should relax its health restriction measures from June 1 at midnight.

A reopening which will however be done gradually.

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With our correspondent in Beijing

,

There will probably be joy, perhaps tears too, after these endless weeks of confinement decided at the highest level of the State.

For 90% of the 25 million Shanghainese men and women who live in so-called “

” zones – without new cases of Covid-19 for two weeks – reopening simply means being able to leave their residential complex freely, to take the public transport and return to work.

But not all employees are affected, as some companies have decided to stagger the return of their staff.

And then you will also have to show your credentials, in this case a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours to be able to get on the metro or enter public places, including workplaces.

Shopping centers will also be able to open at 75% capacity.

Especially small shops and restaurants are waiting for this release.

Many have been in apnea for two months.

In total, nearly 2.7 million small businesses registered in the commercial register will be authorized to resume their activity, without prior stamp from the health authorities.

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In large companies, workers still in a “closed loop”

The whitelist allowing large companies like the semiconductor manufacturer SMIC, or Tesla to work since last month is removed.

The American automaker has returned to its production level before the city was shut down and has exported 9,000 vehicles to Europe since May 11, said the

.

Big business does not experience the health crisis, but the workers themselves will remain under a bubble, in a “

” as the authorities say.

In other words, the workers will have to sleep for a while longer at the factory with their down.

A gradual deconfinement therefore, with a stated objective of returning to normal by the end of June.

New infections have fallen by 53.7% in the past 24 hours and 31 new confirmed cases have been reported by authorities.

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• China

• Coronavirus

• Health and medicine