Authorities in the Chinese city of Shanghai say they will ease strict outing restrictions from Wednesday, after a two-month COVID-19 lockdown.

The city's new daily infections often exceeded 20,000 in April. But on Monday, only about 30 new cases were reported.

Some 22 million residents, or about 90 percent of the population, will be allowed to go out at the start of Wednesday.

Outing restrictions will remain in some areas where new infections were confirmed recently.

Vice Mayor Zong Ming said at a news conference on Tuesday that infections have been curbed thanks to residents' efforts.

Zong stressed that it is time to fully restore normal productive activity and residents' livelihoods in the city.

She also said almost all subway and bus services will resume, and that residents will be allowed to use private cars.

But criticism of the prolonged lockdown continued on social media, including comments such as "Two months have been wasted" and "Lockdown could resume, so this is not a victory."