Shanghai to ease some COVID testing necessities from June 1

Could 29 (Reuters) – Shanghai will ease COVID-19 testing necessities from June 1 for individuals who need to enter public areas or use public transport to encourage work resumption and a return to regular life, a metropolis official stated on Sunday.

From June 1, folks getting into public venues or taking public transportation might want to present a unfavourable PCR check taken inside 72 hours, versus 48 hours beforehand, stated Yin Xin, a authorities spokeswoman for Shanghai in a press briefing.

There will likely be no testing adjustments, nevertheless, for individuals who need to depart town.

Individuals who need to depart Shanghai will nonetheless want to point out a unfavourable PCR check taken inside 48 hours and a unfavourable antigen check inside 24 hours. As earlier than, they are going to be exempted from taking an antigen check if they will present a unfavourable PCR check from the final 24 hours, Yin stated.

The changes to the testing necessities have been made to “promote epidemic prevention and management in addition to financial and social improvement, and resume work and a return to regular life,” she stated.

Reporting by Brenda Goh, Roxanne Liu and Emily Chow; Modifying by Tom Hogue

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.