Light show as Wuhan celebrates end of lockdown

Residents of Wuhan took to the streets as the 11-week lockdown of the Chinese city was lifted, with no new cases of COVID-19 reported according to authorities.

The occasion was marked with a light show on either side of the broad Yangtze river, with skyscrapers and bridges radiating animated images of health workers aiding patients, along with one displaying the words "heroic city," a title bestowed on Wuhan by president and Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

Along the embankments and bridges residents cheered and chanted "Wuhan, let's go!" as they gathered to watch and film the light show.

"This is a matter of significant importance. I will never forget. It will be deep in my memory. It's an once-in-a-lifetime experience, " said resident Tong Zhengkun, who said it was the first time he had been out for seventy days.

As of just after midnight Wednesday, the city's 11 million residents are now permitted to leave without special authorization as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in recent contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus.

Restrictions in the city where most of China's more than 82,000 virus cases and over 3,300 deaths were reported have been gradually relaxed in recent weeks as the number of new cases steadily declined.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and 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 death.