SHANGHAI — China's Shanghai has cut off the community transmission of COVID-19 in 15 out of its 16 districts, according to a press conference on epidemic prevention and control held on May 16.

At present, the number of people living in "closed-off management areas" has dropped to no more than 1 million, and the epidemic has been effectively brought under control, according to the press conference.

The megacity, with a population of over 24 million, reported 69 confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 869 local asymptomatic cases on May 15, the municipal health commission said on May 16.

Shanghai has planned its epidemic control work for the coming period, dividing it into three stages, said Zong Ming, vice-mayor of Shanghai.

During the three stages, Shanghai will continue to see a decline in the number of newly reported infections and gradually minimize the range of the "closed-off management areas" and "restrictive control areas" until the reopening of these communities. From June 1 to mid-late June, Shanghai will fully restore the normal order of production and life across the city with standard epidemic prevention and control measures, while strictly preventing any resurgence of the epidemic, according to Zong.

Railway authorities will gradually increase the number of inbound and outbound trains at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai Railway Station from Monday, and gradually resume normal operation. Subsequently, domestic flights to Shanghai will also be gradually resumed.

Meanwhile, Shanghai will also promote the resumption of work, education and production stage by stage.