China To Ease Coronavirus Lockdown On Hotspot Hubei Province, Wuhan To Follow In April

Chinese authorities are lifting government restrictions for the central province of Hubei, where the coronavirus pandemic has its roots in Wuhan, the main city of the region. The easing of the limits on the region is meant to spur economic growth after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brought business activity to a halt. Wuhan is expected to get the same lifting of restrictions in April.

Hubei, which has been on lockdown for almost two months, plans to begin allowing its 60 million citizens to leave this week.

The citizens of Hubei are allowed to cross borders once they have presented a “green-code” to Chinese authorities. The green-code is meant to ensure that those departing are in good health. The code is to be given to authorities on Chinese citizen’s mobile phones, with a QR-Code, which comes in yellow, green and red. The color is a symbol of individual health status.

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Hubei had been the region with the most stringent controls in place – and it is the last area in China to lift government restrictions on its people. Schools wills also remain closed until further notice.

The return of free movement indicates the Chinese government’s confidence in its measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak.

Article by Emily Bevacqua