Following the intense 2-months lockdown, Shanghai is now entering into the final stages of lifting its COVID-19 restrictions.

The plan was divided into three stages and served to help cities return to normal life by mid-to-late June. As 25 million people have been under lockdown since late March, the authorities have begun allowing residents in areas deemed-low risk to roam the streets of the city freely. 

A resident of the city described the lifting of restrictions as if “the Berlin Wall is coming down." On Wednesday morning, the commuters flooded into subway stations and office buildings, scanning QR codes that certify they are virus-free.

Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Zong Ming told reporters that the easing will impact about 22 million people in the city. The day after, stores, malls, convenience stores, and shopping centers have been allowed to operate at 75% capacity. Streets have been filled with people who came out to meet each other and spend time outside their houses where they have been locked down.

It is important to note that cinemas and gyms remained closed. Schools, on the other hand, that have been shut down since mid-march will open their doors gradually and on a voluntary basis.

Land, sea, and air transport systems will resume, officials said. Taxi and private cars, however, have been permitted in low-risk areas. This would have allowed people to visit each other outside their district.

"This is a moment that we have been looking forward to for a long time," the Shanghai municipal government said in a statement on social media.

Despite the lifting of restrictions, half a million people remained under restriction according to the authorities.