After six weeks of strict security, authorities on Monday announced plans for a phased reopening of the city after it suffered from a decline in covid-19 cases.

CHINA-HEALTH-VIRUS

Workers wearing protective gear boxes are unloading a truck from a cart on a street.

AFP via Getty Images

According to the National Health Commission of China, there were a total of 938 new cases and four deaths in Shanghai.

The city's vice mayor Zong Ming said that 15 of the 16 districts achieved zero Covid in three days.

Authorities on Monday gave a clear timetable for the reopening of the city, with restrictions on movement in place until May 21.

Zong said authorities plan to begin restoring normalcy in the city on June 1.

The city's residents have had a number of problems including food shortages and remained skeptical on social media.

Beijing reported 54 new cases on Monday and some residents were asked to continue working from home, while school classes remain online and restaurants are limited to take-out only.

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552. Since the beginning of the current outbreak in March, the total number of deaths has been reported. China has reported more than 10% of all Covid-19 deaths since the start of the epidemic.

Tangent

The country's economy has been impacted by the lengthy lock-up in the financial hub of Shanghai. Retail sales in China dropped by 11.1% in April as shops, restaurants and other venues remained shut in parts of Beijing and other cities in eastern China. The country's manufacturing output went down as key factories remained shut. The country's export growth slowed to 3.7% in April from 15.7% in March.

Key Background

Despite the current outbreak in Beijing and Shanghai being caused by the highly infectious BA.2 omicron variant of the coronaviruses, China has stuck to its zero- Covid plan. Efforts to question the hardline strategy have been met with resistance from the state. China's internet censors targeted the World Health Organization chief after he said the policy was unsustainable. Video clips of Tedros comments on the same were taken down by WeChat, after a post featuring his remarks was removed.

The virus spread mostly ends the lock down in Shanghai.

June 1 is when the city hopes to return to normal.

Live updates on the coronaviruses.