Wuhan finally loosens coronavirus restrictions after two-month lockdown

Wuhan, China — the epicenter of the worldwide coronavirus outbreak — is finally beginning to loosen its two-month lockdown on residents, as other countries batten down the hatches, according to a new report.
For the first time in weeks, the city appeared to slowly come back to life, with small groups of residents leaving their homes — walking the streets and shopping at grocery stores, The Guardian reported.
Over the weekend, the first train arrived allowing more than 1,000 workers to travel from elsewhere in Hubei province to Wuhan for work, according to the report.
Authorities said Sunday that residents are all-clear to return to work if they do not have a temperature and can provide a green health code, indicating their virus-free status, in addition to their employers’ signatures.
Non-residents who were stranded in the city since stringent travel restrictions were enacted in late January can also begin applying to leave, according to the report.
Residents told the Guardian that only occupants of compounds deemed virus-free are allowed to leave.
“Everyone is being very careful,” said Iris Yao, 40, who has been in the city for the duration of the lockdown.
Meanwhile, traffic jams In China’s capital, Beijing, on Monday were a sign life was returning to normal, the outlet reported.
China saw 39 new COVID-19 cases on Monday — but all were imported from other countries, according to its National Health Commission. Now the nation has turned its attention to preventing imported cases — with officials ordering Sunday that all international flights to Beijing be diverted to other cities where passengers will be screened before entering the capital.
Shanghai and Guangzhou have both said they will start to test international arrivals for the deadly bug.
Meanwhile, the US intensified its response to the virus — with President Trump activating the National Guard in New York — as well as in California and Washington, the states hardest-hit by the pandemic — giving governors control on when to call up the reserves while the federal government foots the bill.
https://nypost.com/2020/03/23/wuhan-finally-loosens-coronavirus-restrictions-after-two-month-lockdown/