Shenzhen allowed factories and public transport in several parts of the city to resume operations on 18th March, partially easing a strict lockdown that has paralyzed the technology hub bordering Hong Kong.

A total of five districts will re-open from the citywide lockdown, allowing workers in those areas to return to their offices. Train and bus services will resume after being shut down since Monday. The rest of the city will still be subject to movement restrictions, the government said. 

Shenzhen will strive to bring Covid under control with minimal cost and provide customized solutions to ensure business activities and production, the city’s health commission said in a statement published on its website late Thursday. The partial lifting comes less than a week after the southern tech powerhouse of 17.5 million people was suddenly locked down to quash the spread of the highly infectious omicron variant.