By Martin Quin Pollard and Engen Tham
WUHAN/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Hundreds gathered in central Wuhan on Saturday night to count right down to the beginning of what many hoped could be a significantly better 12 months after a “tough” 2022 full of lockdowns and in December a serious latest outbreak of the coronavirus.
Many released balloons into the sky when the clocks struck midnight, as per tradition within the central Chinese city where the pandemic began three years ago, before grabbing selfies with their friends.
“Previously 12 months, I feel that COVID-19 was very serious and a few of my relations have been hospitalised,” 17-year-old Wuhan highschool student, surnamed Wang, told Reuters from the riverside shortly after midnight.
“I hope they can be healthy in the brand new 12 months. That is an important thing.”
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Some got here in fancy dress and almost everyone present wore masks because the country sees a wave of COVID which accelerated after curbs were dropped and which has since infected large swathes of the population with deaths now reaching an estimated 9000 a day based on UK-based health data firm Airfinity.
“I’m afraid,” said a woman surnamed Jin, referring to the opportunity of being reinfected with COVID-19.
“I used to be still afraid after I got here out tonight, but I just wanted to return out, because everyone has come out.”
The crowds, including Jin, who were especially tightly packed in front of the old clock tower at Wuhan’s Hankou Customs House, were watched by large numbers of law enforcement officials, SWAT, unidentified plain-clothed personnel, and other security staff.In late November lots of of individuals took part in lockdown demonstrations on the streets of cities across the country including Wuhan. Following those protests, China all but abandoned its strict “zero COVID” policy of stringent curbs.
“Those restrictions were in place for too long, so perhaps people were pretty unhappy,” said 24-year-old Wuhan resident surnamed Chen, who works in e-commerce. “It had been an extended time since things were vigorous and vibrant.”
Police used loudspeakers at various locations, blasting out a brief message on a loop telling people not to assemble, to which individuals appeared to take little or no notice.
People just desired to have a pleasant time.
“I’m looking forward to the brand new 12 months but I’m also very nervous,” said Wuhan resident Lily Zhao, 37, who works as a kindergarten teacher. “I’m wondering when this epidemic can be completely over.“
In Shanghai, which like many Chinese cities in 2022 was put under a lengthy lockdown, many thronged the historic riverside walkway, the Bund.
“We’ve all travelled in from Chengdu to have a good time in Shanghai,” said Da Dai, a 28-year-old digital media executive who was travelling with two friends. “We’ve already had COVID, so now feel it’s protected to enjoy ourselves.”While there have been enough people on the Bund to warrant police directing the flow of those there, local F&B establishments were less busy than last 12 months.
“It’s not nearly as busy because it was last 12 months,” said a waiter at Lost Heaven restaurant near the Bund. Some tables were empty, which might not normally be the case on NYE he said, declining to be named as he was not authorised to talk to the media. The restaurant had over 200 bookings, but typically has 20-30% more, he said.
“People have been afraid to return out because the COVID policy was loosened,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll be higher next 12 months.”
(Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Wuhan and Engen Tham in Shanghai, Editing by Louise Heavens)
Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.
