KATHMANDU: China government has announced the end of 11-week-long lockdown enforced in Wuhan City, allowing travel in and out of the sprawling central Chinese city.
With the restrictions lifted, the first train departed Wednesday morning from a re-opened Wuhan, the epicentre for the COVID-19 pandemic, resuming business and ordinary life.
The city’s 11 million residents are now permitted to leave without special authorization as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy.
“I haven’t been outside for more than 70 days,” said an emotional Tong Zhengkun, who was watching the display from a bridge.
Along the embankments and bridges, citizens waved flags, chanted “Wuhan, let’s go!” and sang a capella renditions of China’s national anthem.
Wuhan’s unprecedented lockdown served as a model for countries battling the coronavirus around the world.
(With inputs from Agencies)