Wuhan, the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic, underwent a strict lockdown for over 10 weeks in an effort to contain the outbreak. This lockdown was finally lifted on Wednesday.
The city, with a population of 11 million, was isolated on January 23, and no one was allowed to enter or leave. Most of China’s nearly 82,000 confirmed infections and 3,331 deaths occurred in Wuhan.
However, with the situation under control, the lockdown in Wuhan was lifted. On Wednesday, April 8, photos depicted people leaving their homes, all wearing masks, and some dressed in white full-body protective suits.
Many individuals were seen traveling as they were finally permitted to reunite with their families and return to their jobs.
Officials estimated that about 55,000 people were set to leave Wuhan by rail on Wednesday, with approximately 21,000 departing via Hankou, the city’s oldest railway station located near the Huanan Seafood Market, an early focal point of infections.
Before 6 am, numerous individuals were already waiting to board the first train out of Wuhan, a high-speed rail to Jingzhou, about 200km away.
Many of them held gift packs provided by the station management, who had arranged for staff to stand on the platform holding up red signs that read “Hankou Station welcomes you.”
“I’m just very happy that we can finally leave, it’s been too long,” said a man identified as Mr. Zheng, as reported by Strait Times.
The airport was bustling with activity, with the first flight departing at 7.25 am to Hainan’s Sanya with 49 passengers on board.
By around 9 am, hundreds had flocked to the airport, where a positive health code was necessary for entry.
Travellers had to display the same code before approaching the check-in counter and once more at the boarding gate.
Airport officials stated that 96 flights were expected to depart from Wuhan on Wednesday alone, with 11,855 travelers anticipated to pass through the airport.
Elizabeth Law, China correspondent for Strait Times, was in Wuhan early today to document the city after the lifting of the lockdown. She reported that despite the appearance of controlled virus spread, people have not lowered their guard.
There are consistently at least three levels of security checks in public places, including temperature screening and reminders for people to maintain a distance of at least 1.5m apart.
Read her tweets below.
