Counting down the days

Shanghai/Beijing: Health authorities in Shanghai face ‘‘huge’’ pressure to keep China’s most populous city free of Covid19 as residents count down the days until June 1 and the end of their lockdown after almost two months.

The commercial hub of 25 million achieved a fourth consecutive day without any new infections in the community, holding on to its prized ‘‘zero Covid’’ status and keeping alive hopes for an imminent end to lockdown misery.

Despite no new cases, authorities are not lifting the lockdown immediately, but gradually easing restrictions until June 1. Some shops canpen this week and public transport is expected to partly resume at the weekend. — Reuters