(Yicai Global) March 18 -- Local officials at Shanghai's Lujiazui Financial City opted to eat out for lunch today in a bid to reassure the public it was safe to do so.

Zhang Yuqiang, head of Lujiazui's city management team, arrived at a restaurant at Shijihui plaza to dine with several of his colleagues, the Shanghai Observer reported, citing him as saying the move was a demonstration to the public.

The plaza would normally be welcoming around 120,000 people a day, but foot traffic is down to about 40 percent of the norm, said Huang Wenhui, promotional director for the mall.

More than 85 percent of Lujiazui's commercial entities have already resumed business since the outbreak of Covid-19 led to many having to shut their doors, according to official data.