Why in news?
- As the coronavirus pandemic rampages across the world, the epicentre of the disease – China, has marked a major milestone in curbing the virus in the country. On 17th March 2020, China has recorded zero domestic infections for the first time since the outbreak erupted in late December 2020.
- As of 19th March 2020, more people are infected and have died abroad than in China.
How did China Manage to do it?
- The city of Wuhan that sustains 11 million people were placed under lockdown on January 23.
- While Hubei province with a population of more than 40 million, was also placed under strict lockdown.
- In the following days, the rest of China witnessed a strict lockdown that limited public gatherings and announced temporary closure of major tech industries.
- On March 10, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan for the first time since the outbreak began and maintained that the spread of the disease was “basically curbed.”
- After XI’s visit, Hubei officials eased restrictions and allowed people to travel within the province for the first time since January, excluding Wuhan.
- Life in China is inching towards normalcy as people are back at work, factories slowly opening their shutters, and schools are resuming their classes.
- While China has successfully managed to contain the virus, there are concerns related to the second wave of the COVID-19 sweeping mainland China as an average of 20,000 Chinese people are being evacuated and flying into China every day.
- Beijing and other regions are now arranged a 14-day quarantine period for most international arrivals in designated hotels, as per the AFP report.
