The Shanghai Disney Resort reopened on November 3, 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort

The Shanghai Disney Resort returned to a sea of joy and cheer on Wednesday as it reopened its arms to welcome tourists from all over the country, after emerging from epidemic-cast shadows in a swift, accurate and clear-cut way that impressed the world as a perfect example of "China speed" in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic.

After hitting the headlines for its rapid COVID-19 emergency response under the guidance and management of local authorities, the Shanghai Disney Resort again grabbed public attention after it reopened on Wednesday, just two days after it was shut down due to reported COVID-19 infection risks. 

According to a notice from the Disney Resort, all staff inside the venue have tested negative for the coronavirus after undergoing two screenings in the past 48 hours, and all environmental samples have returned negative results. 

A Global Times reporter found at the resort on Wednesday that unlike the usual hustle and bustle of people lining up, there were only a few groups of tourists going into the park. 

The resort announced that it would shorten its operation period, and closed Disneyland at 7 pm and Disney Town at 9 pm. 

Near the entrance, security staffers in epidemic prevention outfits held signs to remind tourists to maintain social distancing. As soon as they found anyone without a mask, the employees would gently remind the person to put it back on.

Yellow lines one meter apart were set up at the ticket turnstile to maintain social distancing. Also, the ticket turnstiles will be disinfected every 10 minutes. Previously, disinfection was done once per hour. 

A cleaning staff member surnamed Qi told the Global Times that the resort has also increased the frequency of disinfection at toilets after the reopening.

The Shanghai Disney Resort reopens on November 3, 2021. Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort

Dressed in a cute outfit, a tourist surnamed Huan said she was not worried about getting infected at all. "Instead, today would be the most secure of all, as the park would be more careful of potential risks and curb them as soon as they occur," she told the Global Times. 

"The reaction of Disney Resort amazed me. I had thought that the park would be closed for at least two weeks. It didn't occur to me that it would reopen just two days after the incident," Huan said. 

The Chinese mainland reported 93 domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a new daily high in the recent resurgence which began in mid-October. This has brought the total case numbers to around 600, involving more than half of the country's provincial-level regions.

Health analysts said that this round of surges is more complicated than the Nanjing airport cluster spread, as there are multiple sources nationwide, many of which remain unknown. It also involves a wide scope of infection set against the onset of winter, which makes it easier for the virus to propagate. 

China's top respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan predicted on Wednesday that cases will continue to increase in the coming days, and the peak is yet to come. However, the flare-up is expected to be curbed in one month, Zhong noted. 

Zhang Wenhong, a Shanghai-based top Chinese epidemiologist, said on the same day that the epidemic has entered a crucial stage, urging people to get booster shots that are being arranged nationwide. He stressed that the prevention and control tasks in Shanghai have just started, adding that victory is still far away.