Kamis, 31 Desember 2020

Wuhan locals pack the streets to celebrate New Year as rest of the world suffers under Covid lockdowns - The Sun

PACKED streets and wild New Year celebrations have broken out in the Chinese city of Wuhan where the Covid pandemic began while the rest of the world is locked up at home.

A year ago today, a Covid-19 outbreak was reported in the Hubei province city, which then spread around the world and killed more than 1.8million people.

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Thousands of people jam themselves into Wuhan city centre for the countdown for New Year's Day
Thousands of people jam themselves into Wuhan city centre for the countdown for New Year's Day Credit: REUTERS
The Western New Year custom of hugging and kissing was observed in the Wuhan mass party
The Western New Year custom of hugging and kissing was observed in the Wuhan mass partyCredit: REUTERS
Many were carrying balloons to release when the clock struck 12am
Many were carrying balloons to release when the clock struck 12amCredit: REUTERS
People dance at a night club at a New Year’s party in Wuhan
People dance at a night club at a New Year’s party in WuhanCredit: EPA
Life has largely returned to normal in Wuhan
Life has largely returned to normal in WuhanCredit: EPA
Celebrations have taken place across China, including this parade in Zaozhuang, Shandong province
Celebrations have taken place across China, including this parade in Zaozhuang, Shandong provinceCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Remarkably, Wuhan has not reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10 after lifting one of the strictest lockdowns in the world seven months ago. 

In scenes unimaginable in many places around the world, the city's residents have tonight been thronging the street to toast the New Year.

Many gathered in front of Wuhan city hall holding balloons.

Some were wearing masks, others either have them pulled down or were not wearing one at all.

Meanwhile, young people have been cramming into nightclubs.

Some said they were being cautious, but were reportedly not worried about catching Covid.

'NO CASES SINCE MAY'

These images chronicle life in the previously little known city.

About 11 million have been shut off from the rest of China in a surprise overnight lockdown beginning January 23.

Roadblocks were erected and planes, trains and buses were barred from entering the city. 

Almost 3,900 of China's officially 4,634 recorded Covid-19 deaths occurred in the industrial city.

But after the lockdown was lifted images have emerged showing hundreds of people packed shoulder-to-shoulder at a water park music festival.

Wuhan locals, many wearing masks, seen dancing at an event
Wuhan locals, many wearing masks, seen dancing at an eventCredit: EPA
The huge crowds in Wuhan went wild as 2021 was ushered in
The huge crowds in Wuhan went wild as 2021 was ushered in Credit: REUTERS
A police officer walks past barriers to manage the huge crowds
A police officer walks past barriers to manage the huge crowdsCredit: REUTERS
Wuhan city hall was a focal point for the celebrations
Wuhan city hall was a focal point for the celebrationsCredit: REUTERS
Police officers stand guard to control the huge numbers which flocked to the centre of the city
Police officers stand guard to control the huge numbers which flocked to the centre of the cityCredit: REUTERS
People walk on the banks of Yangtze River on New Year's Eve in 'covid free ' Wuhan
People walk on the banks of Yangtze River on New Year's Eve in 'covid free ' WuhanCredit: AFP or licensors

Huge crowds were also seen in Wuhan thronging the streets to celebrate Halloween

And when nightclubs reopened earlier this month, they were packed to the rafters.

Scientists believe that Covid-19 first originated in bats before spreading to humans in Wuhan, possibly at one of the Chinese city's so-called wet markets.

Conspiracy theories about its origins persist, however, with governments suggesting it may have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab.

People pose for pictures on the banks of the river as they converge on the city centre
People pose for pictures on the banks of the river as they converge on the city centreCredit: AFP or licensors
Meanwhile, the youngsters have been hitting the nighclubs while the rest of the world is locked down
Meanwhile, the youngsters have been hitting the nighclubs while the rest of the world is locked downCredit: EPA
A young woman attends a concert with her face mask pulled down
A young woman attends a concert with her face mask pulled downCredit: EPA

In his New Year message Chinese president Xi Jinping praised the efforts of his people.

The Communist ruler said:''China has written an epic in fighting Covid-19 as the country put people and lives first and fought the epidemic with unity and perseverance.

"Greatness is forged in the ordinary. Heroes come from the people. Every person is remarkable!''

Paying tribute to medics, he added: "They pooled their drops of strength into tremendous power and built an iron wall to safeguard lives."

Compare those scenes with Wuhan in January after a strict lockdown was imposed
Compare those scenes with Wuhan in January after a strict lockdown was imposed Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Not everyone can be seen wearing a mask
Not everyone can be seen wearing a maskCredit: EPA
This venue was packed out despite the pandemic
This venue was packed out despite the pandemic Credit: EPA
This teenage girl screams as she watches a live band
This teenage girl screams as she watches a live bandCredit: EPA
Nightspots have been open since early December
Nightspots have been open since early DecemberCredit: EPA

In other news, China has confirmed its first case of a mutant strain of Covid-19 which was recently detected in Britain.

The first patient in China with the new coronavirus variant is a 23-year-old woman who flew into Shanghai from Britain on December 14, the Chinese Centre for Disease Control said.

It said the case "poses a great potential threat" to China's efforts to curb and control the spread of the virus.

The new strain — which experts say potentially spreads faster than the original one — has prompted travel restrictions on the UK by more than 50 countries.

This includes China, where the coronavirus first emerged late last year. 

But pulling up the drawbridge appears to have failed to stop what has been dubbed as "super-Covid" arriving on its shores.

Elsewhere in the world, people were not joining crowds for the countdown like in Wuhan.

Blue and gold fireworks soared into the sky above the Sydney Opera House as they do every New Year's Eve, but the harbour below was a deserted ghost town, a fittingly creepy send-off for a year that will not be missed.

No light show was to illuminate Beijing from the top of the TV tower.

The lions of London's Trafalgar Square were barricaded off, as was Red Square in Moscow and Madrid's Puerta del Sol.

In Rome, crowds would not assemble in St Peter's, the Pope would lead no Mass, and revelers would not make their yearly dive into the Tiber.

Some cities planned, like Sydney, to launch fireworks over empty streets. Others, such as London and Singapore, just called their displays off. Paris, Rome and Istanbul were under curfew.

The New Year's Eve countdown ball was set to drop on Broadway.

But in place of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers jammed shoulder-to-shoulder in Times Square, the audience would be a pre-selected group of nurses, doctors, and other key workers, their families kept six feet apart in socially distanced pens.

These scenes in Wuhan jare a far cry from the start of 2020 when the city imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in the world
These scenes in Wuhan jare a far cry from the start of 2020 when the city imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in the worldCredit: Reuters
It's been almost a year since Covid-19 broke out in Wuhan, but the city claims to be clear of the virus
It's been almost a year since Covid-19 broke out in Wuhan, but the city claims to be clear of the virusCredit: Reuters
Officially there have been no cases of Covid since May
Officially there have been no cases of Covid since MayCredit: Reuters
People dress as medical officials and patients as they dance to celebrate Halloween in Wuhan
People dress as medical officials and patients as they dance to celebrate Halloween in Wuhan
Traffic police lift a road blockade in Wuhan as part of a strictly enforced lockdown
Traffic police lift a road blockade in Wuhan as part of a strictly enforced lockdown
Some suspect the virus leaked out of the Wuhan Institute of Virology
Some suspect the virus leaked out of the Wuhan Institute of Virology
Medical workers in protective suits attend to Covid-19 patients at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a designated hospital in Wuhan
Medical workers in protective suits attend to Covid-19 patients at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a designated hospital in WuhanCredit: Reuters
Huge numbers of tractors can be seen building an emergency hospital during the Covid outbreak early this year
Huge numbers of tractors can be seen building an emergency hospital during the Covid outbreak early this yearCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Wuhan nightclubs reopen for first time as rest of world locks down for Xmas  

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2020-12-31 22:44:00Z
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