WUHAN/SHANGHAI, Jan 1 (Portal) – Thousands gathered in central Wuhan on Saturday night to start the countdown to the start of what many hoped would come after a ‘tough’ 2022 full of lockdowns and a bigger one new outbreak in December would be a much better year the coronavirus.
Many released balloons into the sky as the clocks struck midnight, as is tradition in the central Chinese city where the pandemic began three years ago, before taking selfies with their friends.
“Over the past year, I felt that COVID-19 was very serious and some of my family members were hospitalized,” the 17-year-old high school student from Wuhan, surnamed Wang, told Portal on the riverbank just after midnight.
“I hope they are healthy in the new year. That’s the most important.”
Some came in costume and almost everyone in attendance wore masks as the country endured a COVID wave that accelerated after curbs were dropped and has since infected large swathes of the population with deaths now estimated by the UK health agency 9000 per day reach data company Airfinity.
“I’m scared,” said a woman surnamed Jin, referring to the possibility of reinfection with COVID-19.
“I was still scared when I came out tonight but I just wanted to get out because everyone came out.”
The crowds, including Jin, who were particularly densely packed in front of the old bell tower of Hankou Customs House in Wuhan, were watched by large numbers of police officers, SWAT, unidentified plainclothes personnel and other security forces. In late November, hundreds of people took part in lockdown demonstrations on the streets of cities across the country, including Wuhan. After these protests, China all but abandoned its strict “zero-COVID” policy of strict restrictions.
“These restrictions were in place for too long, so maybe people were quite unhappy,” said the 24-year-old Wuhan resident, surnamed Chen, who works in e-commerce. “It’s been a long time since things were lively and dynamic. “
Police deployed loudspeakers at several locations and put out a short message on a loop urging people not to gather, to which people seemed to take little or no heed.
People just wanted to have a good time.
“I’m looking forward to the new year, but I’m also very nervous,” said Lily Zhao, 37, from Wuhan, who works as a kindergarten teacher. “I wonder when this epidemic will be completely over.”
In Shanghai, which like many Chinese cities has been placed under a protracted lockdown in 2022, many crowded the historic waterfront walkway, the Bund.
“We all traveled from Chengdu to celebrate in Shanghai,” said Da Dai, a 28-year-old digital media executive who was traveling with two friends. “We’ve already had COVID, so now you feel like it’s safe to enjoy us.” While there were enough people on the federal government to justify police directing the flow of people there, the local F&B Facilities less busy than last year.
“It’s not nearly as busy as last year,” said a waiter at Lost Heaven restaurant near the Bund. Some tables are empty, which isn’t usually the case at NYE, he said, declining to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media. The restaurant had over 200 bookings, but usually 20-30% more, he said.
“People have been afraid to come out since the COVID policy was eased,” he said. “Hopefully next year will be better.”
Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Wuhan and Engen Tham in Shanghai, edited by Louise Heavens
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