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Shops gradually reopening in Shanghai as epidemic wanes

By CAO YIN in Shanghai | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2022-05-16 17:41

Shops gradually reopen in Fengjing town, Jinshan district, Shanghai, on May 16, 2022. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

After ceasing operations for about two months, Jia Nianbo reopened his barber shop in Fengjing town in Shanghai's Jinshan district at 8:30 am on Monday as restrictions brought on by the city's latest epidemic have been eased over the past few days.

Jia, who has run the shop for 16 years, was told that he could resume operations on Sunday. Earlier that day, the Shanghai government announced that retail businesses and markets citywide would resume offline operations in a gradual and orderly manner this week.

To ensure business resumed smoothly, Jia came to his shop early on Monday morning to prepare, taking time to clean and disinfect the shop and post some anti-epidemic notices.

A native from Sichuan province, Jia has worked in Shanghai for 20 years. He told China Daily that consumers should make an appointment one day in advance through WeChat or telephone if they want a haircut in accordance with the district's epidemic prevention and control regulations.

They also need to scan health codes and show negative nucleic acid test results before entering the shop, he said.

"I received many calls and text messages from old customers during the outbreak, most of whom asked me when the shop would reopen and complained that they had lost hairstyles," he said. "I was so happy today, as everything is turning back to normal."

Jiang Qinyi, who lives in a community in Jinshan, was the barber shop's first customer on Monday.

"I really wanted to cut my hair a little bit short during the lockdown period, but I worried I would mess up my hairstyle if I cut it myself," she said. "So I came here after I learned it had reopened."

Next to the barber shop, Lai Yuelin was busy making bottles of lemon tea and milk tea for customers at Sweet7. Monday was also the first day the tea shop resumed offline business.

Lai, who has worked at the store for two years, had to stay at home in the district over the past two months. Her employer continued to pay her.

Before March 28, when residents in the district were placed under closed-loop management to curb the spread of Omicron variant, Lai could make some 400 bottles of milk tea per day. During holidays or weekends, the workload would be heavier, reaching 600 bottles a day.

"I missed those busy days very much, as that meant a booming business," said the Jiangxi province native. "Today's resumption is a good start, and I hope those good old days can come back soon."

Given that some food and materials are still being transported, some products are not available, she said. But she promised customers that various kinds of milk tea will be available later this week.

A customer surnamed Zhang said that milk tea is what she most wanted to drink during the outbreak.

"I couldn't help coming to buy two bottles after I found out that the store reopened today," she said.

According to Fengjing's economic development office, 445 business venues were allowed to resume offline operations starting Monday.

It was the third time that the town allowed some businesses to resume since the epidemic began. Twice in April, Fengjing announced the gradual reopening of supermarkets, drugstores and shops specializing in baby products to meet the needs of local residents, the office said.

The town has 1,734 business venues in total. As of Monday, a total of 664 have resumed offline operations, it added.

A Xinhua Bookstore in Jinshan's Zhujing town also reopened on Monday. Customers need to show negative nucleic acid test results and health codes and have their body temperatures checked before entering the store.

By noon, some 70 customers had entered the store to buy books, stationery and office supplies. To prevent crowds from gathering, only five customers were allowed to shop at a time.

Gao Lihua, the bookstore's manager, said that the offline business is being resumed gradually and will be adjusted over time in accordance with the district's epidemic prevention requirements.

"Many customers asked me when they could buy batteries, print paper and stationery during the outbreak, as their children need them to study," she said, adding that she has tried her best to meet demands by taking online orders.

She told China Daily that students facing high school and college entrance exams welcomed the bookstore's offline opening, as they need to buy reference books to prepare.

At Sunday's news conference, Shanghai authorities said that catering and hairdressing services would resume gradually, but all retail venues are required to design entry and exit channels and limit the flow of customers.

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