More local businesses allowed to reopen without approval

Many businesses in Shanghai can now resume normal operations without approval from authorities, local industry regulators have announced.

In Shanghai, 99.5 percent of large-scale industrial firms have resumed production while 99.1 percent of supermarkets and 98 percent of food markets have reopened. Meanwhile, 65.1 percent of dining spaces and 43.1 percent of beauty salon businesses have reopened, according to the Shanghai Commission of Economy and Information Technology.

Local culture, entertainment, science and academic spaces have gradually reopened. This includes 23 museums, 17 galleries, 33 libraries and culture sites, 95 scenic sites including the Shanghai Zoo as well as 588 sports sites.

The Shanghai Library, which had closed since January, has also reopened. It offers fast-track book returning sites outdoors with touchless process. People need appointment if they want to enter the library.

This latest move to revive local economic activity without compromising public health does not apply to certain kinds of leisure and education businesses, or sites which may attract dense crowds. Indoor entertainment venues like Internet cafes, cinemas, karaoke bars, massage parlors, and offline education and training centers still need approval to resume operations.