The latest news on Shanghai’s full lifting of lockdown in 2022: Can it be lifted during the Dragon Boat Festival?

On May 17, Shanghai announced that the entire city had achieved zero social contact. In recent days, the epidemic situation in Shanghai has been stable and improving. On May 30, the number of newly reported positive infections in Shanghai dropped below 100. So, what is the latest news about Shanghai’s full lifting of the lockdown in 2022? Can the lockdown be lifted during the Dragon Boat Festival?

1. The latest news on Shanghai's full lifting of lockdown in 2022

The Office of the Shanghai COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group today (May 30) issued the "Notice on the Restoration of Entry and Exit of Public Transportation, Operation of Motor Vehicles and Traffic in Residential Community in the City from June 1". From 0:00 on June 1, 2022, entry and exit of residential communities, public transportation operations and motor vehicle traffic will be restored in an orderly manner.

1. Entrance and exit of residential areas have been resumed. Except for medium- and high-risk areas, lockdown areas, and control areas, districts, towns, neighborhood committees, property management committees, property companies, etc. shall not restrict the entry and exit of residents living in the community for any reason.

2. Public transportation resumes operations. The entire city's ground public transportation and rail transit network have resumed basic operations, and cross-river ferries (including three-island passenger transport) have resumed operations in an orderly manner.

3. Motor vehicle traffic resumes. The implementation of the electronic pass system for motor vehicles will be terminated, and cruising taxis and online ride-hailing vehicles will resume normal operations; except for medium- and high-risk areas and lockdown and control areas, private cars and unit vehicles will travel normally. For those driving motor vehicles in and out of urban intersections, the existing regulations shall be followed.

2. Will Shanghai be able to fully lift the Dragon Boat Festival ban in 2022?

Shanghai cannot be fully reopened during the Dragon Boat Festival. Because there are still 7 medium-risk areas in Shanghai as of now, and one of them was designated on May 30. That is to say, even if the epidemic situation improves, it will take at least 14 days to achieve complete unblocking, which is expected to be in mid-June. The following is the latest classification of medium-risk areas:

On May 30, 2022, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, the Office of the Municipal COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group decided to list No. 165 Jianchuan Road, Wujing Town, Minhang District as a medium-risk area. The risk levels of other areas in Shanghai remain unchanged.

On May 29, 2022, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, the Office of the Municipal COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group decided to list Lane 910, Dingxiang Road, Huamu Street, Pudong New Area as a medium-risk area. The risk levels of other areas in Shanghai remain unchanged.

On May 28, 2022, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, the Office of the Municipal COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group decided to list Lane 585, Binhu Road, Fangsong Street, Songjiang District as a medium-risk area. The risk levels of other areas in Shanghai remain unchanged.

On May 25, 2022, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, the Office of the Municipal COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group decided to list No. 898, Yongjing Road, Juyuan New District, Jiading District (North District) as a medium-risk area. The risk levels of other areas in Shanghai remain unchanged.

On May 20, 2022, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, the Office of the Municipal COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group decided to list Xu'an Village, Xujing Town, Qingpu District (Yangxiang West District) as a medium-risk area. The risk levels of other areas in Shanghai remain unchanged.

On March 18, 2022, in accordance with the relevant requirements of the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, the Office of the Municipal COVID-19 Prevention and Control Leading Group decided to list No. 20, Lane 612, Shunchang Road, Dapuqiao Street, Huangpu District as a medium-risk area. The risk levels of other areas in Shanghai remain unchanged.

In general, Shanghai has orderly resumed entry and exit of residential areas, public transportation operations, and motor vehicle traffic since 00:00 on June 1, but the full lockdown cannot be achieved during the Dragon Boat Festival. The full lockdown is expected to be around June 15.