Shanghai, May 23 -- Shanghai is facing an exodus of talent and labour as thousands of people leave the pandemic-hit city which is witnessing a total lockdown since Apr 1.

These people are facing worries that local authorities will backtrack from plans to switch to normal virus control measures in June after achieving a societal zero-Covid goal.

At the city's Hongqiao railway station, passengers have to queue up for two hours before they can even access the terminal.

Those who plan on leaving need to show train tickets, approval letters from sub-district authorities and negative nucleic reports within 48 hours of their journey, before gaining permission to enter the terminal, The South China Morning Post reported.

Meanwhile, authoritie...