Shanghai will promote the resumption of business in stages under epidemic prevention measures from May 16, said Chen Tong, vice mayor of Shanghai, at a press conference on COVID-19 prevention and control on Sunday.

The Chinese megacity, home to 25 million people, has been hit by a new wave of COVID-19 since late March. It has been forced to take strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.

In order to ensure the basic living guarantee and the supply of daily necessities, the Shanghai government has vigorously promoted the opening of business outlets and the return of personnel to ensure supply, Chen said. 

The number of commercial outlets operating in the city has increased from the lowest point of 1,400 to 10,625, with daily delivery orders reaching 5 million, he said.

Shanghai registered 166 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,203 asymptomatic cases on Saturday, local authorities said, sharply down from April.

For the next step, the government will continue promoting the resumption of businesses and markets in stages, while strictly implementing various measures to prevent and control the outbreak, Chen said.

Commercial outlets, such as shopping malls, department stores, supermarket stores, convenience stores and pharmacies, will gradually resume offline operations in an orderly manner while limiting customer traffic, according to the vice mayor.

Wholesale markets will conduct contactless transactions but suspend retail business, while vegetable markets will resume offline business and control the rate of stalls opening as well as customer traffic.

Online and offline takeaway services will be offered, while hair salons will implement staggered service plans limiting customer traffic.

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