Monday, February 10, 2025
HomeUncategorizedCoronavirus: Wuhan Reopens After 2-Month Lockdown

Coronavirus: Wuhan Reopens After 2-Month Lockdown

 

WUHAN: Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus first
emerged last year, partly reopened on Saturday after more than two
months of near total isolation for its population of 11 million.

The
city in Hubei province was placed under lockdown in January with
roadblocks ring-fencing its outskirts and drastic restrictions on daily
life

But the major transport and industrial hub has now signalled
the end of its long isolation, with state media showing the first
officially sanctioned passenger train arriving back into the city just
after midnight.

People are now allowed to enter but not leave, and many trains had been fully booked days in advance.

AFP reporters saw crowds of passengers arriving at Wuhan station on Saturday, most wheeling suitcases alongside them.

Some
had managed to slip back into the city a day earlier on rail services
that were stopping in Wuhan — but nominally banned passengers from
disembarking — as enforcement of the travel ban began to ease.

Staff
at the Wuhan station were all clad in full protective gear with
reception desks lined up ready to process returnees who had been
overseas.

China is now battling to control a wave of imported cases as infections soar abroad.

As
passengers lined up to exit the station Saturday — some wearing two
face masks, gloves, face screens or full protective suits — a worker in a
hazmat suit shouted for anyone returning from overseas to come forward.

All arrivals in Wuhan have to show a green code on a mobile app to prove that they are healthy.

Elsewhere in China, long lines of travellers queued at train stations to board high-speed services back to Wuhan.

Passengers
in Shanghai had their temperatures checked by staff in goggles and
masks after boarding their Saturday morning service.

Restrictions
on residents heading out of Wuhan will not be lifted until April 8,
when the airport will also reopen for domestic flights.

Wuhan is
the last area of Hubei province to see overland travel restrictions
lifted, although some highways leading into the city had already
reopened this week.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular