After Covid Lockdown, Shanghai Residents Grapple With Trauma

While China has declared victory over the virus in Shanghai, residents are grappling with the trauma of their experience.

As many Shanghai residents rushed onto the streets this week to reunite with friends and pop champagne to celebrate the end of a two month-long lockdown, Li Menghua was busy packing up his hair salon, a casualty of the draconian quest to stamp out COVID-19.

Li, 24, set up his salon three years ago after leaving home in Henan province to seek his fortune in China's largest and most prosperous city.

"Our business was really good, always busy with customers. But because of the pandemic, a lot of shopfronts have to close," he said.

"Not many people can survive more than two months without a salary," he said.