Lockdown lifts at stroke of midnight in Wuhan

A midnight light show brightened Wuhan's sky as a tribute to heroes in the battle against the coronavirus outbreak, as the Chinese city entered its first post-lockdown day on Wednesday.

Wuhan, the Chinese city hardest hit by the virus pandemic, started lifting outbound travel restrictions from Wednesday after almost 11 weeks of lockdown to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Cars honked horns and rushed out after barricades were removed at midnight at expressway toll gates.

According to the local traffic department, most of the people travelled to nearby cities in the Hubei Province.

On January 23, Wuhan declared unprecedented traffic restrictions, including suspending the city's public transport and all outbound flights and trains, in an attempt to contain the outbreak.

Similar restrictions were soon introduced in other areas in Hubei.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.