Health
Wuhan Ends Lockdown, Struggles to Recover from Effects of the Coronavirus
Authorities in China are lifting the lockdown in Wuhan after 11 weeks. They now allow residents to leave home without special authorization. They can go “as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in recent contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus,” according to Fox News.
The New York Times reported that the reopening came after only three new coronavirus cases surfaced in the city in the past three weeks. It was also a day after China reported no new deaths for the first time since January.
The lockdown restricted Wuhan residents from going about their daily lives. During the said lockdown, authorities only allowed them out of their homes to buy food or attend to necessary tasks. Some residents received permission to leave the city if they had paperwork. They must also prove that they were not a health risk. Another requirement is a letter saying where they will go and why.
Wuhan Lockdown's Aftermath
China Sets Date for End of Wuhan Lockdown as Coronavirus Threat Recedes https://t.co/6c7xuW26hG
— Variety (@Variety) March 24, 2020
The lockdown is coming to an end. Major plants are restarting production, and many businesses plan to reopen. Those that hire employees are still trying to recover from a lack of workers and demand. The city government says that they are establishing measures to get them back to normalcy. This includes $2.8 billion in preferential loans.
“Before this epidemic, Wuhan was a city with a lot of vitality,” said Yan Hui, a Wuhan native and COVID-19 survivor, as reported by The New York Times. “Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are already economically mature. But Wuhan has just gotten started.”
People had faced the ban on leaving or entering Wuhan since January 23rd. The lockdown was expanded to most of the province. While the exact source of the virus is still unknown, many believe it originated from an outdoor food market.
“Wuhan people experienced it firsthand,” said Yan. “Their friends got sick. Their friends and friends’ relatives died. Right before their eyes, one by one, they left us. Their understanding of this disaster is deeper compared to people in other cities.”
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