Shanghai officials on Sunday said the city will gradually begin reopening businesses from Monday, following a weeks-long lockdown that began in late March.

The announcement came as the business hub reported 166 symptomatic Covid-19 infections and 1,203 asymptomatic cases on Sunday. Three more Covid patients with underlying illness have died.

The city's Vice Mayor Chen Tong said at a daily press briefing that shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores will be allowed to reopen “in an orderly manner”, while implementing measures that reduce the flow of people.

Hair salons and vegetable markets will reopen with limited capacity, while restaurants will be allowed to serve takeout.

Meanwhile, the National Health Commission on Sunday reported 226 new symptomatic infections and 1,492 asymptomatic cases.

The bulk of the new infections came from Shanghai. Beijing saw 41 local infections, and Sichuan, 209.

In all, the mainland has reported 221,804 infections since the pandemic began, and 5,209 deaths.