Shanghai, China’s financial hub, announced plans for more post-Covid-19 lockdowns on Thursday as it moves towards a return to normalcy, but a national economic recovery is still far away, adding to the sense of urgency for further support.

China’s largest city in terms of economic output has suffered from the lockdown imposed in early April. Other cities not under quarantine but still besieged by Covid restrictions, including Beijing, are also battling the highly contagious variant omicron, which has prompted stronger responses from health officials this year.

While the government has refused to relax its zero-tolerance stance against Covid, factories and businesses have been crippled by lockdowns, endless mass testing and disruptions caused by mobility restrictions in large sections of the population.

Shanghai will finally come out of lockdown on June 1st after new infections dropped sharply. The mega-city of 25 million cautiously lets more of its population go outside and put more vehicles on the once busy streets and avenues.

City officials said on Thursday that middle and high school students will be able to return to face-to-face classes from June 6, following news that malls and department stores may reopen, albeit gradually, from June 1.