China has lifted its coronavirus lockdown in the province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak. It will end restrictions on movement in most areas of the province tomorrow for citizens who get clearance.
Restrictions on the hardest-hit city of Wuhan will remain until April 8. China barred people from leaving or entering Wuhan and the wider province on January 23 as COVID-19 began spreading to the rest of the country and overseas during the Lunar New Year holiday, when many Chinese travel.
Hubei has had almost no new infections for more than a week. However, the claims have disputed by residents and analysts – with some hospitals refusing to test for the virus and rumours spreading of unreported cases.