From Monday, citizens are allowed to take public transport and enter public areas with a 24-hour PCR test certificate, even if the result has yet to come out, according to Shanghai's COVID-19 prevention and control authority.

The proof that a nucleic acid test has been made within 24 hours will become a valid alternative for those who fail to receive their PCR test result on time, apart from the 72-hour negative PCR report, said Xia Kejia, the official in charge of PCR screening.

"We encourage citizens to take regular nucleic acid testing," he told the city's COVID-19 press briefing on Sunday night.