# The Lingering Effects of Covid-19: A Community’s Struggle in Shanghai

Sat Oct 25 2025 12:33:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Shanghai's residents grapple with the emotional and social aftermath of one of the world's strictest Covid lockdowns nearly three years later.

The residents of Shanghai's Menghua Jie, one of the areas severely impacted by the Covid lockdown in 2022, face ongoing challenges such as loss of community, businesses, and emotional well-being. Even as the physical remnants of the lockdown fade, the psychological scars remain, with locals like Fu Aiying feeling fundamentally changed by their experiences.

In the heart of Shanghai, echoes of past struggles linger for the residents of Menghua Jie, also known as Dream Flower Street. This once-vibrant neighborhood is now a shadow of its former self, still bearing the weight of the strict Covid-19 lockdown that lasted over a month in 2022—one of the tightest in the world. While the physical signs of this grueling period, like testing booths and quarantine centers, have been dismantled, the emotional and psychological remnants are far from erased.

Fu Aiying, owner of a small stir-fry restaurant, is among those grappling with the profound consequences of the lockdown. In a neighborhood that recorded some of the highest infection rates in the city, she recalls the stench of rotten food as officials took her away for quarantine without letting her secure her groceries. The oppressive atmosphere of uncertainty and fear has left a lasting imprint on her spirit.

“Since my time in quarantine, I don’t have a temper anymore. I don’t have a personality anymore,” Fu laments, her voice quivering as she recounts her experience of being locked away for 39 days. For many residents, the lockdown not only stripped them of their ability to buy essential goods like food and medicine but also severed familial bonds, as they lived in constant fear of being separated from their loved ones.

As the neighborhood faces demolition due to claims that its cramped living conditions contributed to virus transmission, the emotional landscape is changing as swiftly as the physical one. With boarded-up windows and shuttered storefronts, the remnants of community life fade into memory. Businesses like Fu’s remain open, yet they are a fraction of what once thrived in this bustling part of the city. This loss is not just economic; it is deeply personal, affecting residents' sense of identity and community.

Now, nearly three years later, these shadows of the past serve as stark reminders of a community forever altered by the pandemic—a narrative of resilience intertwined with profound loss and change. As the city moves on, the people of Menghua Jie are left to navigate their new reality, reflecting on what was lost and what it means for their future.