Residents of Shanghai have suffered through more than two months of restrictions meant to control the spread of the coronavirus. But authorities have now lifted the lockdowns in most neighborhoods.

Local officials started allowing 22 million residents, or about 90 percent of the city's population, to go out from Tuesday midnight.

When the lockdowns began on March 28, they were supposed to end on April 5. But they were extended as infections continued to spread.

One old man said, "I feel good just because I am able to breathe fresh air. I can finally see hope."

Shanghai's daily new infection rate topped 20,000 when the outbreak peaked in April, but only about 10 new cases were reported on Tuesday.

Authorities will allow full resumption of production activities, operation of commercial facilities and public transportation services to bring the city back to normal.

But people who use public transportation are required to show a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours.

Some buildings will halve the number of employees allowed to work in their offices.