This page contains personal opinions only. Don’t treat it as official announcement.

If anyone asks me about the situation in Shanghai, I would say: “SARS is over in Shanghai”.

Shanghai returns to prosperity

After week-long cloudy and cold whether, from yesterday, it becomes sunny and hot. People began to rush out to street for shopping. Below are a series of pictures I took in Xiang Yang Market.

People are wearing summer clothes and I didn’t see any masks in the market. The most crowded market famous for cool shoes, cases, and clothes was almost empty during April but now, people begin to return. Although it is not exactly as busy as before, it is already a very significant sign. It tells that people in the city begin to think SARS is over.

© 2003 Jian Shuo Wang

People are busy bargaining with the sales man.

© 2003 Jian Shuo Wang

A lot of foreigners are visiting the place.

© 2003 Jian Shuo Wang

The small road are packed with taxis and cars – it was once empty during the May holiday.

© 2003 Jian Shuo Wang

Quarantine policy changes

Yesterday afternoon, the government announced the change of quarantine policy. People returning Shanghai will no longer need to take two-week quarantine. All people coming from SARS affected areas will take medical observation instead. Only SARS patient, suspected patient and close-contactor (identified by CDC) need to go under quarantine now. Others will only need to take temperature everyday.

Shanghai eased its traveling rules yesterday, asking only those with close contact to SARS patients and suspected patients to go through medical quarantine.

Local residents now returning to the city, including from such hard-hit areas as Beijing and Hong Kong, will not be quarantined as an earlier document required.

The new measures be-come effective on Monday.

Shanghai Government Announcement

Travel is not discouraged now

In addition to the quarantine policy change, restriction to business travel, actives and events is lifted. It is allowed to organize people to go out of the city to SARS-free provinces or provinces with 20 days of no-SARS history.

I also consulted the Shanghai SARS hotline 95120. The representative told me it is OK for people to hold activities in Shanghai again. It seems the situation is better.

Restaurant resumes operation

During the SARS hit months, some restaurant has closed due to lack of customers. Today, when I passed by Xujiahui Road, I found a restaurant put a large sign outside the window – “Business resumes from May 30”. It is the only restaurant I see to resume operation these days.

Strict precautions still apply

I have been very used to the change of life after SARS – I have my temperature taken every morning when I enter the building I am working. This lasted for 2 weeks already. This is still going on. The disinfection of taxis and buses do not stop – I suspect maybe this can be a permanent policy in Shanghai.

SARS is over in the mind of people

SARS is over. At least from the people’s mind. SARS is removed from people’s topic list. Seldom do I hear my friends talking about SARS recently. Just as the end of long cloudy weather, SARS is passing and the city enjoys the sunlight again.