coronavirus – What a lockdown might mean for London

coronavirus – When China announced plans to lock down Wuhan and most of the surrounding Hubei province, the news was greeted with astonishment around the world. Experts warned that it was an unprecedented and risky attempt to control the virus that might not work.

Nearly two months later, with the daily number of new cases in China down to single digits last week, Wuhan is starting to emerge from two months of isolation, and this approach has become the model for other countries with outbreaks that appear to be sliding out of control.

Other countries appear to have suppressed or contained the coronavirus disease without such stringent measures, including Taiwan and Singapore, but they acted early and fast on other measures including testing, contact tracing and social distancing.

On 23 January China locked down Wuhan city, home to 11 million people, where coronavirus is thought to have originated. It was probably the most extreme lockdown so far and at the time it was brought in the move was met with some international scepticism, including from the World Health Organization.

No journeys were allowed in or out of the city, even for those with compelling medical or humanitarian reasons.

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Inside the city, public transport was suspended and private cars barred from the roads in most circumstances, except as part of the fight against the virus.

Most people live in residential blocks or compounds, and management barred visits. Only inhabitants, authorities, or people providing help to elderly or disabled were allowed in.

Schools and universities were already closed for the lunar new year holiday but that was extended. Most shops were closed; only pharmacies and supermarkets remained open.

People were only allowed to leave their homes to get essential supplies or seek medical help, and anyone who did go out was required to wear a mask.

Two weeks later conditions were tightened, with authorities ordering house-to-house searches for potentially infected individuals, and forcing them into quarantine.

Source – https://www.theguardian.com/world/