After two months, China relaxes Covid restrictions in Shanghai.

After a two-month lockdown, the Chinese city of Shanghai, the country’s economic center and a global trade hub, has eased Covid restrictions.

At midnight local time (16:00 GMT Tuesday), restrictions were lifted, allowing most residents of the 25-million-person city to move freely.

However, at least 650,000 people will be confined to their homes.

People infected with Covid face quarantine or hospitalization under China’s overall policy of “zero Covid.”

Their close contacts may also be removed to quarantine, and the area around where they live may be closed down again.

“This is a day that we have long anticipated,” Shanghai government spokeswoman Yin Xin said.

“Everyone has made significant sacrifices. This day has been hard won, and we must cherish and protect it, as well as welcome back the Shanghai we know and miss.”

There are new rules as well: residents must show a green health code on their smartphone to leave their home compounds or buildings and access most places; those who want to use public transportation or go to banks, malls, etc. must have a negative PCR test certificate valid in the last 72 hours; and restrictions on leaving Shanghai remain, with anyone travelling to another city facing a 7-14 day quarantine on their return.

However, this did not dampen people’s relief.