First Day of Wuhan Lockdown Lifted... "Many Still Staying Home Due to Entry Restrictions" (Comprehensive)

- First Day of Lockdown Lifted: Train, Airplane, Bus, Taxi Services Resume
- "Can't Go Out"... Strict 'Iron Wall' Management Continues in Residential Complexes

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Correspondent Sunmi Park] Although Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China, officially ended the 76-day city lockdown, strict control and management are still in place, making it difficult for many people to move freely.

On the 8th, Mr. Choi (51), a Korean resident living in the Chinese medicine university residential complex in Wuchang District, Wuhan, told this reporter in a phone interview that although he was notified that he could leave the school premises starting from the first day of the lockdown lift, he failed to go out due to the control by management personnel. He had been informed that a walk in the park was allowed and tried to go out, but the response he received was, "It is dangerous outside. You cannot go out."

On that day, near the entrance of the residential complex where Mr. Choi lives, many people gathered trying to go outside following the lifting of the Wuhan lockdown. When management personnel tried to prevent people from going out, a scuffle broke out between residents shouting "Open the door" and the management personnel saying "We cannot open it." Mr. Choi explained, "It cannot be said that the Wuhan lockdown has been completely lifted," adding, "It is true that movement is still not free."

He said, "Since the Wuhan lockdown on January 23, I have not been able to leave the residential complex," and added, "People who went to work could go out by presenting relevant certificates, but those without jobs could not justify a necessary reason to go out, so most were trapped inside the residential complex. Although we were notified that we could go outside starting today, it is not being applied."

Wuhan City continues to implement closed management by opening only some entrances of residential complexes in each area while keeping most closed, and citizens can only enter indoor spaces such as supermarkets if they have a green health code proving their health status. The green health code certifies that the person has not been infected with COVID-19 and has not had close contact with confirmed or suspected patients. However, foreign passports are not recognized for health code identity verification, so foreigners still cannot enter indoor spaces.

Although the Wuhan city government officially ended the lockdown and most transportation connecting Wuhan and other regions is operating normally, the city government has officially advised citizens to avoid leaving the city as much as possible. Wuhan continues to maintain the highest level 1 risk management quarantine system.

The Hubei Province COVID-19 Prevention Headquarters issued a notice on the night of the 7th, just before the Wuhan lockdown was lifted, stating, "(Wuhan) residents must thoroughly strengthen their awareness of quarantine," and "Reduce outings as much as possible and avoid going outside the complex, city, or province unless necessary." Hubei authorities also instructed Wuhan's residential complexes to further strengthen management and control measures such as ID verification, visitor records, temperature checks, and mask-wearing, designating each complex as a 'strict zone.'

The continued emergence of new COVID-19 confirmed cases and asymptomatic infections in China is the reason why the COVID-19 prevention reins cannot be loosened. On the 7th alone, China reported 62 new confirmed cases, 2 deaths, and 137 new asymptomatic infections.

Among the 62 new confirmed cases, 59 were imported from overseas, but 3 cases were infected domestically in Shandong Province (2 cases) and Guangdong Province (1 case). There were also 12 new suspected cases, 11 imported and 1 from Guangdong Province. The number of asymptomatic infections increased by 137 in one day. Including these, the total number of asymptomatic infections currently under medical observation is 1,095.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

In this situation, it is estimated that about 55,000 people who were trapped inside Wuhan for 76 days will leave Wuhan on the first day of the lockdown lift, causing heightened tension across China. China Railway Korea Group stated based on train ticket reservation data that about 55,000 passengers are expected to leave the Wuhan area by train on the first day of the lockdown lift. Forty percent of them are heading to the Zhujiang Delta region (a triangular area connecting Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macau), where Chinese manufacturing and export companies are concentrated.

As anxiety about the Wuhan lockdown lift grows within China, voices are increasing that even if the lockdown is lifted, COVID-19 prevention and control measures must continue to be strengthened. The state-run media Global Times editorial stated, "The Wuhan lockdown lift and risk management strengthening must go hand in hand," adding, "The city lockdown lift does not mean easing quarantine and control. Since new infection cases are emerging in Hubei Province, which was previously unlocked, Chinese people cannot associate the Wuhan lockdown lift with relief." The newspaper emphasized, "The Chinese government must not relax COVID-19 prevention and control after the lockdown lift and must not neglect hidden risks that could cause the virus to spread again. Quarantine and control must be faithfully maintained until the end."