COVID-19: China opens Wuhan after 76-day lockdown

First batch of vehicles leave Wuhan city in central China where novel coronavirus was first reported last December

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - China on Tuesday lifted its lockdown to help contain the novel coronavirus in Wuhan city after 76 days, local media reported.

At around 12.00 a.m. (1600GMT), authorities allowed traffic to move out of the capital of the central Hubei province where the coronavirus was first reported, the daily Global Times reported.

The country last month announced that it would lift restrictions in Wuhan as of April 8. The city houses nearly 11 million people.

On Jan. 23, China imposed a strict lockdown in Wuhan to stem the spread of the coronavirus which has killed over 78,000 people globally since last December when it was first reported by health authorities in Wuhan.

- Global situation

After originating in Wuhan, China last December, the virus has spread to at least 184 countries and regions across the world, with its epicenter shifting to Europe, while China has largely come out of the crisis.

The virus infected over 1.38 million people worldwide, while more than 292,900 people recovered from the disease, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. Over 78,200 have died.

Despite the rising number of cases, most people who get infected suffer only mild symptoms and make a recovery.

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