Shanghai aims to reopen more COVID-19 shut businesses

China’s financial and manufacturing hub, Shanghai will begin reopening of businesses such as shopping malls and hair salons in from Monday, after weeks in strict COVID-19 lockdown.

Shanghai is tightening curbs in some areas that it hopes marks a final push in its campaign against the virus, which has infuriated and exhausted residents of China’s largest and most cosmopolitan city.

“Shopping malls, department stores, and supermarkets will begin resuming in-store operations and allow customers to shop in an orderly way.

“However, hair salons and vegetable markets will reopen with limited capacity,” Vice Mayor Chen Tong said.

During Shanghai’s lockdown, residents have been mainly limited to buying necessities, with normal shopping on online platforms largely suspended due to a shortage of couriers.

And while barbers and hairdressers have been giving haircuts on the street or in open areas of housing compounds, residents recently able to leave their homes for a few hours at a time to walk or buy groceries have generally appeared more dishevelled than usual.

Reuters