SH: Public transport back, community restrictions to ease June 1

According to the local government in Shanghai, the city's outbreak has been "effectively" controlled, and the situation on the ground continues to improve. 

Beginning June 1, the city will transition away from lockdown measures, lifting many restrictions across the city, to move closer to 'normalized' pandemic prevention and control standards that are in place across much of the Chinese mainland. 

With the exception of high- and medium-risk areas and sealed and controlled areas, which will remain under some form of lockdown, district, town, and village-level administrative areas will no longer restrict residents' movements "for any reason." 

Meanwhile, the "basic" operation of public road and rail transportation will resume, along with ferry services. 

Taxis and ride-hailing services will be reintroduced, and the use of private cars will not be restricted outside of areas remaining under some form of lockdown or localized pandemic control. 

Rules for movement in and out of the city via private car, however, will remain unchanged for the time being. 

The announcements were made yesterday (May 30) by municipal pandemic response authorities. Today (May 31), it was announced that flights in and out of the city would increase, and shopping malls would reopen, albeit with 75% capacity limits.

While the situation is improving, residents have been urged to continue wearing face masks, maintain social distancing, avoid large gatherings, comply with nucleic acid (PCR) testing requirements, and get vaccinated where possible. 

Written by Hazza Harding

Posted by Darla Zhu Jiayan

Producer: Michelle Luo Liting

Executive Producer: Lin Weiqing