China Wuhan Eases Lockdown for Non-Residents...Local Government Lowers Response Level (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has eased lockdown measures by allowing non-residents to leave the city after one month of lockdown. As the spread of COVID-19 in China calms down, more local governments are lowering their response levels.

On the 24th, Wuhan City relaxed its lockdown order to allow non-resident outsiders who have had no contact with COVID-19 patients and show no symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing to leave the city. This comes one month after Wuhan was completely locked down due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Wuhan authorities also eased restrictions to allow people involved in city operations or disease control and treatment to leave the city with official permission. However, it has not been specifically clarified whether this measure applies only to Chinese nationals or also to foreigners, such as those from Hong Kong, who have been stranded in Wuhan. Those who leave Wuhan must undergo medical observation for at least 14 days upon arrival at their destination.

This measure was introduced as the momentum of COVID-19 spread in China is gradually slowing down. In particular, local governments outside Hubei Province are increasingly lowering their response levels as the spread of COVID-19 within China clearly subsides.

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), Guangdong Province in China has decided to lower its response level for the 'public health emergency' caused by COVID-19 from Level 1 to Level 2.

Guangdong Province became the sixth region in China to downgrade its COVID-19 response level. Guangdong has reported 1,345 confirmed cases and 6 deaths due to infection, making it the second most affected area in China after Hubei Province. However, the Guangdong government recently judged that the infection spread trend is calming down, leading to this decision.

Last month, all 31 provinces and cities in China designated the public health emergency response level as the highest Level 1. Recently, Shanxi and Guangdong provinces lowered their response levels to Level 2, while Gansu, Liaoning, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces adjusted theirs to Level 3. China manages public health emergencies by dividing them into Levels 1 to 4.

Although the cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 continues to rise in China, the number of newly confirmed cases is showing signs of stabilization. This calming trend is especially clear outside the outbreak area of Hubei Province.

According to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) as of midnight, 409 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 150 deaths were recorded nationwide. Of the 409 confirmed cases, 398 were from Hubei Province, and among the 150 deaths, 149 were patients from Hubei. One death was reported in Hainan Province.

China's new confirmed cases peaked at 1,749 on the 18th, then dropped to 394 on the 19th, 889 on the 20th, 397 on the 21st, 648 on the 22nd, and 409 on the 23rd, showing a plateau. The number of new confirmed cases outside Hubei Province sharply decreased to 31 on the 21st, 18 on the 22nd, and 11 on the 23rd.

In cumulative totals, 77,150 people across China have been confirmed infected. Among them, 24,734 have recovered and been discharged, and 2,592 have died. Currently, 49,824 confirmed patients are receiving hospital treatment. However, among those being treated, 9,915 are in severe condition, so the death toll is likely to increase further. Outside mainland China in the Greater China region, a total of 112 confirmed cases have been reported: Hong Kong 74 (12 discharged, 2 deaths), Macau 10 (6 discharged), and Taiwan 28 (5 discharged, 1 death).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.