Xi'an gets back to normal after COVID improvement

Xi'an, Shaanxi province, has resumed work and production after being designated low-risk for COVID-19 in all areas on Monday.

All the city's public transportation services, including public buses, taxis, car-hailing, subways and shuttles, began operating again, according to an announcement issued by Xi'an COVID-19 prevention and control headquarters on Monday.

Meanwhile all shopping malls, supermarkets and street vendors have also restarted business, it said.

In addition to being allowed to leave the city for other areas with only green health codes, all residents can now go in and out of local communities and villages when they wear face masks, have body temperature measured and show their health codes, it said.

Previously, to leave the city and enter local communities and villages, residents had to show a negative nucleic acid testing results no older than 48 hours and have travel approvals from their companies or neighborhoods.

The city's restaurants, scenic spots, cinemas, theaters and other entertainment venues are still required to limit the number of visitors, reserve online in advance and maintain social distance inside to prevent and control a resurgence of the coronavirus.

Residents are urged to postpone weddings, simplify funerals and cancel parties and banquets, the announcement said. Family banquets or gatherings of more than 10 people are discouraged. Those who want to host a banquet with more than five tables are required to report to local neighborhood committees in advance.

The announcement urged residents to pay special heed to personal protection and immediately seek medical help if they develop fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, decreased sense of smell and tease, stuffy nose, runny nose, conjunctivitis, myalgia or diarrhea.

Shaanxi reported no confirmed patients, asymptomatic carriers, imported cases or suspected cases on Sunday, a statement released by provincial health commission said on Monday.

As of the end of Sunday, the province had detected a total of 2,080 confirmed cases in the outbreak of Dec 9, the statement said. The patients included 2,053 reported in Xi'an, 13 in Xianyang, 13 in Yan'an and one in Weinan.