Shanghai is targeting for a COVID-free society by the middle of May.

Shanghai is to achieve zero COVID at the community level in the next days, after which it will gradually lift traffic restrictions and open shops, according to the city’s deputy mayor Wu Qing.

Though the situation is improving, Wu told a press conference that the fight against China’s largest-ever COVID-19 epidemic “still requires the united efforts of every person.”

Wu stated, “Our current goal is to attain social zero by the middle of this month.” “We’ve already noticed that the light is getting brighter.”

When Chinese officials speak to cases “at the community level,” they are referring to incidents that occur outside of tightly controlled quarantine zones. Cases outside of quarantine zones are being actively monitored for signs of disease.

Shanghai is also aiming to extend the number of firms that are permitted to function, according to Wu, who also stated that the city as a whole would resume normal production and activity “as soon as possible.”

However, he noted that there were still significant obstacles and concerns, particularly in older portions of the city where sanitation infrastructure is lacking.

Shanghai will enable transportation to continue once the situation improves, and schools will gradually reopen, starting with grades about to take college or senior high school entrance examinations, Wu added.

Shanghai has been preparing for the end of the lockdown by implementing a “normalized” COVID-19 testing system, which will allow residents to get fast tests before entering public areas.

More than 5,700 testing stations were in use, Wu told reporters.