COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei

File:关于做好不明原因肺炎救治工作的紧急通知.pdf

{{See also|Origin of SARS-CoV-2}}

On March 13, 2020, an unverified report from the South China Morning Post suggested that a COVID-19 case, traced back to November 17, 2019, in a 55-year-old from Hubei province, may have been the first patient.{{cite news |title=China's first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17 |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back |work=South China Morning Post |date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2020|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313004217/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back}}{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/first-covid-19-case-happened-in-november-china-government-records-show-report |title=First Covid-19 case happened in November, China government records show—report |date=13 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 March 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=March 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320235432/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/first-covid-19-case-happened-in-november-china-government-records-show-report |url-status=live }} On March 27, 2020, news outlets citing a government document reported that a 57-year-old woman, who had tested positive for the coronavirus disease on December 10, 2019 and was described in The Wall Street Journal on March 6, 2020, may have been patient zero in the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last=Oliveira |first=Nelson |title=Shrimp vendor identified as possible coronavirus 'patient zero,' leaked document says |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-wuhan-shrimp-vendor-may-be-patient-zero-20200327-nnqrpn3hwfb43cxyzsnftdul7a-story.html |date=27 March 2020 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=27 March 2020 |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408092000/https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-wuhan-shrimp-vendor-may-be-patient-zero-20200327-nnqrpn3hwfb43cxyzsnftdul7a-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Page |first1=Jeremy |last2=Fan |first2=Wenxin |last3=Khan |first3=Natasha |title=How It All Started: China's Early Coronavirus Missteps |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-it-all-started-chinas-early-coronavirus-missteps-11583508932 |date=6 March 2020 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=27 March 2020 |archive-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509104025/https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-it-all-started-chinas-early-coronavirus-missteps-11583508932 |url-status=live }} A viral pneumonia patient with an unknown cause was hospitalized at Jinyintan Hospital on December 1, 2019, even though the patient did not have any exposure to the Huanan Seafood Market. An outbreak of the virus began among people who had been exposed to the market nine days later.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51382117|date=2020-02-05|work=BBC News 中文|access-date=2020-02-05|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205112519/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51382117|archive-date=5 February 2020|language=zh-Hans|script-title=zh:时间线：武汉疫情如何一步步扩散至全球}}{{Cite journal|last1=Huang|first1=Chaolin|last2=Wang|first2=Yeming|last3=Li|first3=Xingwang|last4=Ren|first4=Lili|last5=Zhao|first5=Jianping|last6=Hu|first6=Yi|last7=Zhang|first7=Li|last8=Fan|first8=Guohui|last9=Xu|first9=Jiuyang|last10=Gu|first10=Xiaoying|last11=Cheng|first11=Zhenshun|date=2020-01-24|title=Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China|url= |journal=The Lancet|volume=395|language=en|issue=10223|pages=497–506|doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30183-5|issn=0140-6736|pmid=31986264|pmc=7159299|doi-access=free}} On December 26, Shanghai PHC received a sample from a patient with unknown pneumonia from Wuhan CCDC and Wuhan Central Hospital. They started an investigation into the sample, which was then confirmed to contain a new coronavirus.

However, the outbreak went unnoticed until a cluster of unknown pneumonias was observed by a Wuhan doctor named Zhang Jixian.{{cite news|url=https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-02-02/doc-iimxyqvy9611122.shtml|date=2020-02-02|work=武汉晚报|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202190807/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-02-02/doc-iimxyqvy9611122.shtml|archive-date=2 February 2020|script-title=zh:最早上报疫情的她，怎样发现这种不一样的肺炎}} Zhang was an ICU doctor at Hubei Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. Her experience fighting SARS in 2003 kept her alert to the possibility of a public health emergency. On December 26, 2019, a senior couple who lived near Zhang's hospital came to her for their fever and cough. The CT scan results of the couple's thorax showed unusual changes in the lungs that were different from those in any known viral pneumonia. Dr. Zhang advised the couple's son to see her and found similar conditions. On the same day, Dr. Zhang saw a patient from the Huanan Seafood Market that also had unusual conditions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

On December 27, Zhang reported her discovery to her hospital and the hospital soon informed Jianghan CCDC, thinking that it might be an infectious disease as indicated by the familial cluster. As a precaution, she told her colleagues to wear protective gear and prepare a specialized area in the hospital to receive patients with similar conditions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

On December 28 and 29, three more patients came to the hospital's clinic, all of whom were related to the Huanan Seafood Market. The hospital notified the provincial and municipal health commissions. On December 29, the health commissions appointed Wuhan and Jianghan CCDC and Jinyintan Hospital to undertake epidemiological research for the seven patients. Six were then transferred to Jinyintan, a specialized facility for infectious diseases. Only one patient refused the transfer. Dr. Zhang Jixian's discovery was later widely praised.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/doctor-who-treated-first-7-coronavirus-patients-in-wuhan-now-a-hero-in-china/story-hUvQxiFVaDa8lfQMn9YSdK.html|title=Doctor who treated first 7 Coronavirus patients in Wuhan now a hero in China|date=2020-02-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202173454/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/doctor-who-treated-first-7-coronavirus-patients-in-wuhan-now-a-hero-in-china/story-hUvQxiFVaDa8lfQMn9YSdK.html|url-status=live}} Hubei's government honored her and Zhang Dingyu, the president of Jinyintan, for their contribution to controlling the viral outbreak.{{Cite web|url=https://k.sina.cn/article_6456450127_180d59c4f02000uy9s.html?from=news&subch=onews|date=2020-02-07|website=Sina Corp|script-title=zh:湖北给予张定宇和张继先记大功奖励|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227063952/https://k.sina.cn/article_6456450127_180d59c4f02000uy9s.html%3Ffrom%3Dnews%26subch%3Donews|url-status=live}}

On the evening of December 30, two emergent notice letters from the Municipal Health Commission of Wuhan began circulating online. This was soon confirmed by Wuhan CCDC, which admitted on December 31 that there were 27 cases of pneumonia of unknown cause. The letters required all hospitals in Wuhan to report any pneumonia patient with unknown causes related to the Huanan Seafood Market. After a rumor about it circulated on the internet, Wuhan CCDC told The Beijing News the investigation was still underway and that experts from NHC were on the way to help the investigation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2019/12/31/668430.html|date=2019-12-31|script-title=zh:武汉疾控证实：当地现不明原因肺炎病人，发病数在统计|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231045932/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2019/12/31/668430.html|archive-date=2019-12-31}}

On January 1, 2020, the seafood market was closed down by Jianghan District's Health Agency and Administration for Market Regulation due to an "environment improvement." According to China Business, workers in hazmat suits were inspecting the market and collecting samples. The storekeepers at the market said that they were not told what the people were collecting and detecting. The urban management officers and police officers were on the spot to ask the storekeepers to finish up and leave the market.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/china/gncj/2020-01-01/doc-iihnzhfz9652655.shtml|date=January 2020|script-title=zh:武汉华南海鲜市场休市整治：多数商户已关门停业(图)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102112601/https://finance.sina.com.cn/china/gncj/2020-01-01/doc-iihnzhfz9652655.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-02}} The first death from the new virus was reported on January 11.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html|title=How the Coronavirus Pandemic Unfolded: a Timeline|access-date=2020-05-10|work=New York Times|archive-date=December 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227132641/https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html|url-status=live}}

Within three weeks of the first known cases, the government built sixteen large mobile hospitals in Wuhan and sent 40,000 medical staff to the city.{{Cite book |last=Jin |first=Keyu |title=The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism |date=2023 |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-1-9848-7828-1 |location=New York |author-link=Keyu Jin}}{{Rp|page=137}} Implementing these measures made Chinese perceptions of the government's response more favorable.{{Cite book |last=Shi |first=Song |title=China and the Internet: Using New Media for Development and Social Change |date=2023 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=9781978834736 |location=New Brunswick, NJ}}

Several doctors were warned by the Wuhan police for "spreading misinformation". According to [https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/%E7%8E%8B%E9%AB%98%E9%A3%9E Wang Gaofei], Weibo's CEO,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rumor-01302020141720.html|website=Radio Free Asia|language=zh-yue|script-title=zh:内地高院为武汉肺炎「造谣者」平反 消息指8人均为前线医生|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201180538/https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rumor-01302020141720.html|archive-date=1 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} eight "rumormongers" who were all doctors at Wuhan hospitals were summoned by the police on January 3.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/01/c_1125412773.htm|work=Xinhua|language=zh-cn|script-title=zh:8人因网上散布"武汉病毒性肺炎"不实信息被依法处理|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102112602/http://health.people.com.cn/n1/2020/0102/c14739-31531892.html|archive-date=2020-01-02|access-date=2020-01-02}}{{cite news|url=http://tv.cctv.com/2020/01/02/VIDErnm2wPQlxvVrWCJtEZ6O200102.shtml|work=tv.cctv.com|access-date=2 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129070240/http://tv.cctv.com/2020/01/02/VIDErnm2wPQlxvVrWCJtEZ6O200102.shtml|archive-date=29 January 2020|script-title=zh:[东方时空]湖北武汉发现不明原因肺炎 8名散播谣言者被查处_CCTV节目官网-CCTV-13_央视网(cctv.com)}} Li Wenliang, one of the whistleblowers, died from the virus on February 7;{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/asia/li-wenliang-coronavirus-whistleblower-doctor-dies-intl/index.html|title=Wuhan hospital announces death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang|author1=Yong Xiong|author2=Hande Atay Alam|website=CNN|access-date=2020-02-07|author3=Nectar Gan|date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=May 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515105037/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/asia/li-wenliang-coronavirus-whistleblower-doctor-dies-intl/index.html|url-status=live}} the same day that the discoverers of the outbreak, Zhang Jixian and Zhang Dingyu, were honored by Hubei's government.{{Cite web|url=https://theinitium.com/article/20200207-in-memory-of-li-wen-liang/|date=2020-02-07|website=The Initium|script-title=zh:別讓普通人李文亮，僅僅成為體制崩壞的註腳|access-date=2020-02-11|title=Initium Media|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207013727/https://theinitium.com/article/20200207-in-memory-of-li-wen-liang/|url-status=live}} The death of Dr. Li led to widespread grief and criticism towards the government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/coronavirus-latest-updates-china-death-toll-rises.html|last=Cheng|first=Sam Meredith, Joanna Tan, Evelyn|date=2020-02-07|website=CNBC|language=en|script-title=zh:Trump heaps praise on Xi, Singapore raises coronavirus alert to SARS level|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=February 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207004027/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/coronavirus-latest-updates-china-death-toll-rises.html|url-status=live}}

Although the early cases surrounding an animal market may suggest animal-to-human transmission, more evidence surfaced to support human-to-human transmission of the virus.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html|title=About Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)|date=2020-02-03|website=CDC|language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-05|archive-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211105920/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html|url-status=live}} However, despite the expert-led investigation, early signs of human-to-human transmission such as a hospital-acquired infection (nosocomial) case was confirmed on January 10. According to Caixin,{{Cite news|last=孟嘗君|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-51290945|date=2020-01-29|work=BBC News 中文|access-date=2020-02-02|language=zh-Hant|script-title=zh:"武漢肺炎：疫情從可控到失控的三十天"|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812123156/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/chinese-news-51290945|url-status=live}} the local government of Wuhan denied any case of nosocomial infection and kept claiming that "there was no clear sign of human-to-human transmission." This continued until January 15, when Wuhan's Municipal Health Commission (MHC) said on its website that "the result of present investigation shows no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission, but this does not rule the possibility of such a transmission out. The risk of continuous human-to-human transmission is low." According to Ray Yip, former country director for China in the US CDC, and other US health and national security officials, authorities in Wuhan told Chinese CDC field investigators sent there at the beginning of January that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and did not show them all the cases; in particular infected hospital workers, which were an obvious sign of human-to-human transmission.{{Cite web|last1=Bandler|first1=James|last2=Callahan|first2=Patricia|author2-link=Patricia Callahan|last3=Rotella|first3=Sebastian|author3-link=Sebastian Rotella|last4=Berg|first4=Kirsten|date=2020-10-15|title=Inside the Fall of the CDC|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-the-fall-of-the-cdc?token=bwnE-YlTOLIxpRVxt4nceglepP1YkKSJ|access-date=2020-11-10|website=ProPublica|language=en|archive-date=July 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728044528/https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-the-fall-of-the-cdc?token=bwnE-YlTOLIxpRVxt4nceglepP1YkKSJ|url-status=live}}

Between January 6–17, the reported number of cases froze at 41. During the Hubei Lianghui and Wuhan Lianghui (local parliament sessions), the authorities of Hubei and Wuhan claimed the freeze was due to the lack of PCR test kits for the new virus. However, Caixin said that the other sequencing techniques could be used for diagnosis, which usually took two days without any need for PCR kits.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yicai.com/news/100485217.html|last1=Xu|first1=Bingqing|last2=Chen|first2=Rui|date=2020-02-01|website=YiMagazine|script-title=zh:特别报道：1月6日之后，12天病例零新增之谜|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202092416/https://www.yicai.com/news/100485217.html|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-02}} Meanwhile, an Imperial College group{{Cite web|url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/2019-nCoV-outbreak-report-17-01-2020.pdf|title=Estimating the potential total number of novel Coronavirus cases in Wuhan City, China (report 1)|last1=Imai|first1=Natsuko|last2=Dorigatti|first2=Ilaria|date=17 January 2020|website=Imperial College London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121081317/https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/sph/ide/gida-fellowships/2019-nCoV-outbreak-report-17-01-2020.pdf|archive-date=21 January 2020|access-date=18 January 2020|last3=Cori|first3=Anne|last4=Riley|first4=Steven|last5=Ferguson|first5=Neil M}}{{Cite news|last=Gallagher|first=James|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51148303|title=New Chinese virus 'will have infected hundreds'|date=18 January 2020|access-date=18 January 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118020222/https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51148303|archive-date=18 January 2020|work=BBC News}} and a Hong Kong University group{{Cite web|url=https://sph.hku.hk/en/news/press-releases/2020/nowcasting-and-forecasting-the-wuhan-2019-ncov-outbreak|title=HKUMed WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control releases real-time nowcast on the likely extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, domestic and international spread with the forecast for chunyun|website=HKUMed School of Public Health|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125050442/https://sph.hku.hk/en/news/press-releases/2020/nowcasting-and-forecasting-the-wuhan-2019-ncov-outbreak|archive-date=25 January 2020|access-date=23 January 2020}} both estimated over 1,000 cases in Wuhan, as cases were being exported and confirmed overseas. Perceived discrepancies in the official Chinese data for the number of cases left many netizens doubtful,{{Citation|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200117/k10012249681000.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121044834/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200117/k10012249681000.html|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=21 January 2020|script-title=ja:中国 武漢の新型ウイルス肺炎でネット上に疑問の声|script-website=ja:NHKニュース|url-status=dead}} with some mockingly labeling the virus "patriotic" for its appearance of mainly infecting Chinese even after they left the country.{{Citation|title=Years after SARS, a more confident China faces a new virus|url=https://apnews.com/0bf5cd116c250483a8232533d41edc69|website=Associated Press|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818132558/https://apnews.com/0bf5cd116c250483a8232533d41edc69|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2204014.html|date=2020-01-19|website=Sinchew Daily|script-title=zh:网民讥"只出国不出省，是个爱国病毒"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127093712/https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2204014.html|archive-date=27 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%97%85%E6%AF%921700%E5%92%8C45/a-52050633|date=2020-01-18|website=Deutsche Welle|language=zh-CN|script-title=zh:武汉新型病毒：1700+和45 {{!}} DW {{!}} 18.01.2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123153655/https://www.dw.com/zh/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%97%85%E6%AF%921700%E5%92%8C45/a-52050633|archive-date=23 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}

On January 20, the Chinese National Health Commission announced that human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus had already occurred.{{cite news |last1=Kuo |first1=Lily |title=China confirms human-to-human transmission of coronavirus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/20/coronavirus-spreads-to-beijing-as-china-confirms-new-cases |access-date=18 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=21 January 2020 |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322001315/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/20/coronavirus-spreads-to-beijing-as-china-confirms-new-cases |url-status=live }}

Also on January 20, the number of reported new cases soared to 136 as the major mainland cities including Beijing and Shenzhen reported their first cases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200120-china-confirms-sharp-rise-in-cases-of-sars-like-virus-across-the-country|date=20 January 2020|script-title=zh:China confirms sharp rise in cases of SARS-like virus across the country|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120055618/https://www.france24.com/en/20200120-china-confirms-sharp-rise-in-cases-of-sars-like-virus-across-the-country|archive-date=20 January 2020|access-date=20 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20200120/china-virus-wuhan-coronavirus/|date=2020-01-21|work=New York Times Chinese|language=zh-hans|script-title=zh:武汉肺炎两日激增136宗病例，北京深圳首现感染者|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060638/https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20200120/china-virus-wuhan-coronavirus/|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Only the Wuhan authorities stopped claiming that the virus had a limited ability to transmit between humans.{{Cite web|url=http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-20/101506465.html|script-title=zh:钟南山：新型冠状病毒肺炎"肯定人传人"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122140209/http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-20/101506465.html|archive-date=2020-01-22|access-date=2020-01-30}} On the same day, the city formed specialized command for epidemic control (CEC) to upgrade measures to cope with the epidemic including enhanced protection over the medical workers{{Cite news|access-date=2020-03-21|url=https://cn.reuters.com/article/cctv-wuhan-coronavirus-control-0121-idCNKBS1ZK07N|date=2020-01-21|publisher=路透社|script-title=zh:武汉成立新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情防控指挥部 升级防控措施--央视|language=zh|website=cn.reuters.com|agency=Reuters|trans-title=Wuhan establishes new-type coronavirus pneumonia epidemic prevention and control headquarters|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231029/https://cn.reuters.com/article/cctv-wuhan-coronavirus-control-0121-idCNKBS1ZK07N|url-status=dead}} and free treatment for all patients at fever clinics.{{Cite web|url=http://hb.people.com.cn/n2/2020/0121/c192237-33736852.html|website=people.com.cn|language=zh|script-title=zh:武汉新型冠状病毒感染患者救治均由政府买单|access-date=2020-01-21|trans-title=Government pays for treatment of patients with new coronavirus infection in Wuhan|archive-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508110545/https://hb.people.com.cn/n2/2020/0121/c192237-33736852.html|url-status=live}} That evening, Zhong Nanshan (one of the NHC experts sent to Wuhan, who was well known for fighting against SARS in 2003) exemplified human-to-human transmission of the new virus with a cluster of 14 hospital-acquired infections in Wuhan and two familial clusters in Guangdong.{{Cite web|url=http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-20/101506465.html|last1=Chen|first1=Baocheng|last2=Zhao|first2=Jinzhao|date=2020-01-20|website=Caixin|language=zh|script-title=zh:钟南山：新型冠状病毒肺炎"肯定人传人"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122140209/http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-20/101506465.html|archive-date=22 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-02}}

However, the NHC still insisted that the epidemic should be "manageable and preventable."{{Source?|date=November 2024}} At that time, the BBC said that not much public attention was drawn to the virus outbreak. On January 19, despite the virus outbreak, over 40,000 Wuhan families joined an annual potluck banquet,{{Cite news|last1=Buckley|first1=Chris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/world/asia/china-coronavirus.html|title=As New Coronavirus Spread, China's Old Habits Delayed Fight|date=2020-02-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-02-11|last2=Myers|first2=Steven Lee|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518135637/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/world/asia/china-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}} which was a community tradition observed for over two decades to celebrate the Kitchen God Festival. A community leader told The Beijing News that "everything is normal now" when asked about the virus outbreak.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/21/677390.html|last=王瑞文; 王亚会|date=2020-01-21|website=The Beijing News|script-title=zh:武汉一社区办万家宴，社区负责人：目前一切正常|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060634/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/21/677390.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} According to the community committee of Baibuting (where the banquet was held), as of February 4, a block of the community had at least 10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection, plus over 30 highly suspicious cases; but the community hospital also said that the incidents of the coronavirus was lower than that in the other communities.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eeo.com.cn/2020/0206/375769.shtml|last=Li|first=Weiao|date=2020-02-06|website=The Economic Observer|script-title=zh:"万家宴"所在社区卫生中心医生：百步亭确诊新冠肺炎患者比例不比其他社区高|access-date=2020-02-07|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729020213/http://www.eeo.com.cn/2020/0206/375769.shtml|url-status=live}}

Zhou Xianwang, the mayor of Wuhan who was widely criticized by the public and media due to slow responses,{{Cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/cn/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20200127-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%84%E7%90%86%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E6%97%A0%E6%96%B9%E5%BC%95%E5%8F%91%E6%B0%91%E6%80%A8-%E6%B9%96%E5%8C%97%E5%AE%98%E5%91%98%E6%88%90%E7%AE%AD%E9%9D%B6|date=2020-01-27|website=Radio France Internationale|language=zh-Hans|script-title=zh:中国处理疫情无方引发民怨 湖北官员成箭靶|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206181707/http://www.rfi.fr/cn/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/20200127-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%A4%84%E7%90%86%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85%E6%97%A0%E6%96%B9%E5%BC%95%E5%8F%91%E6%B0%91%E6%80%A8-%E6%B9%96%E5%8C%97%E5%AE%98%E5%91%98%E6%88%90%E7%AE%AD%E9%9D%B6|url-status=live}} said to the state media CCTV that the banquet was organized by the local community, which had a long history of self-governance. He said that the government did not take precautions to stop the event because it believed the virus had limited transmissibility between people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_22_532609.shtml|website=Guancha.com|script-title=zh:武汉社区19日还在搞万家宴 市长回应：对这件事预警不够|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813093531/https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_22_532609.shtml|url-status=live}}

File:2020-1-23 湖北黄冈黄州区的一个公交车上.jpg

On January 20, Guan Yi, an expert in SARS epidemiology from Hong Kong, told Caixin that the local government should not play on words about the transmissibility and hoped that it could learn from the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak. He continued, "transmissibility, adaptability, incidence and virulence of the virus highly resemble those of SARS at the early stage of 2003 outbreak".{{Cite web|url=http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-20/101506222.html|date=2020-01-20|website=Caixin|script-title=zh:管轶：武汉肺炎发展曲线与SARS高度相似|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203062135/http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-20/101506222.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Guan's team came to Wuhan on January 21 and returned to Hong Kong on the next day. He said to the media that the "epidemiology experts and scientists do not seem to be welcomed in the city."{{Cite web|url=https://www.hk01.com/社會新聞/425644/武漢肺炎-管軼-病源被毀-不歡迎專家-估感染規模大沙士十倍|last1=勞顯亮|last2=勞顯亮|date=2020-01-23|language=zh-HK|script-title=zh:【武漢肺炎】管軼：病源被毀、不歡迎專家 估感染規模大沙士十倍|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203033434/https://www.hk01.com/%E7%A4%BE%E6%9C%83%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E/425644/%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E7%AE%A1%E8%BB%BC-%E7%97%85%E6%BA%90%E8%A2%AB%E6%AF%80-%E4%B8%8D%E6%AD%A1%E8%BF%8E%E5%B0%88%E5%AE%B6-%E4%BC%B0%E6%84%9F%E6%9F%93%E8%A6%8F%E6%A8%A1%E5%A4%A7%E6%B2%99%E5%A3%AB%E5%8D%81%E5%80%8D|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03|script-website=zh:香港01}} On January 22, Wuhan was still "an open city" to the virus outbreak where most people did not wear a mask, although the NHC announced the coronavirus-associated pneumonia as a notifiable disease. He believed that a pandemic was unavoidable as the virus spread with the migration flow of Chunyun.{{Cite web|url=http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-23/101507670.html|date=2020-01-23|website=Caixin|script-title=zh:管轶：去过武汉请自我隔离|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125064008/http://www.caixin.com/2020-01-23/101507670.html|archive-date=25 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20200123-1023486|date=2020-01-23|work=Zaobao|access-date=2020-02-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130032214/https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20200123-1023486|archive-date=30 January 2020|language=zh-sg|script-title=zh:港大专家管轶：传播源已全面铺开 感染规模或沙斯10倍}}

The statements of Guan, which were different from those in most Chinese media, became highly controversial as journalists of state media reposted his statement on January 15, where he said that he believed that the disease was manageable and the news that his lab was fined by the Chinese authorities in 2005. Wang Duan, the Caixin journalist who made the interview described such behavior as "personal attacks" and complained that no expert came forward to refute what Guan said.{{Cite news|last=梓鹏|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51292715|date=2020-01-29|work=BBC News 中文|access-date=2020-02-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130051024/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51292715|archive-date=30 January 2020|language=zh-Hans|script-title=zh:武汉疫情与中港"一国两制"下的医护镜像}}

{{Main|2020 Hubei lockdowns}}

File:COVID-19 Incidence Map China 2020-01-22.svg

On January 23, 2020, the central government of the People's Republic of China imposed a lockdown in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province in an effort to quarantine the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was the first known instance in modern history of locking a major city down of as many as 11 million people. The incident was commonly referred to in the media as the "Wuhan lockdown" ({{zh|s=武汉封城|p=Wǔhàn fēng chéng}}). The World Health Organization (WHO), though stating that it was beyond its own guidelines, commended the move, calling it "unprecedented in public health history".{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9|title=Wuhan lockdown 'unprecedented', shows commitment to contain virus: WHO representative in China|date=2020-01-23|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-01-23|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124203401/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9|archive-date=24 January 2020|language=en}} The lockdown in Wuhan set the precedence for similar measures in the other Chinese cities. Within hours of the Wuhan lockdown, travel restrictions were also imposed on the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou and were eventually imposed on all other 15 cities in Hubei, affecting a total of about 57 million people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/26/asia/wuhan-coronavirus-update-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Wuhan coronavirus: Thousands of cases confirmed as China goes into emergency mode|author1=James Griffiths|author2=Amy Woodyatt|website=CNN|date=January 27, 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128120647/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/26/asia/wuhan-coronavirus-update-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5671283|title=襄阳火车站关闭，湖北省最后一个地级市"封城"|date=2020-01-29|website=thepaper.cn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202170024/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5671283|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-04}} On February 2, 2020, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, implemented a seven-day lockdown in which only one person per household was allowed to exit once each two days; and most of the highway exits were closed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-shuts-down-city-of-wenzhou-far-from-virus-epicentre|title=China shuts down city of Wenzhou, far from virus epicentre|last=hermesauto|date=2020-02-02|website=The Straits Times|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202051824/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-shuts-down-city-of-wenzhou-far-from-virus-epicentre|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-02}}

On January 19, according to Wuhan Radio Television, the city authorities said that they would monitor anyone leaving the city as a measure to contain the epidemic. Staff of Hankou Railway Station told The Beijing News on January 20 that they would check the temperature of every passenger moving into and out of the station. If a passenger's temperature was above {{convert|38|C|F}}, further examinations would be made and they would notify the hospital if necessary.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/21/677163.html|date=2020-01-21|website=The Beijing News|script-title=zh:实地探访：进出武汉须检测体温，超38°C进一步排查|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060635/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/21/677163.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Although the local government claimed that such measures were taken at the airport, railway stations, coach stations and piers in Wuhan since January 14,{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/21/c_1125490924.htm|author=廖君、黎昌政|work=Xinhua|script-title=zh:武汉实施进出人员管控|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124024700/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/21/c_1125490924.htm|archive-date=2020-01-24|access-date=2020-01-24}} reports by Hong Kong-based Now News and mainland-based Caixin indicated such measures were not taken at that time.{{cite news|url=https://news.now.com/home/local/player?newsId=377055|work=Now News|date=January 17, 2020 |access-date=5 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154832/https://news.now.com/home/local/player%3FnewsId%3D377055|archive-date=2 February 2020|language=zh-hk|script-title=zh:【首都專線】內地春運未見加強車站防疫}} Caixin believed this to be a cause of the surge of confirmed cases.

File:Staff_monitoring_passengers'_body_temperature_in_Wuhan_railway_station_during_the_Wuhan_coronavirus_outbreak.jpg]]

On January 22, Wuhan MHC said that the city would have a random check on any private cars in and out of the city to see whether they carried any kinds of living poultry or wildlife.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/22/677736.html|date=2020-01-22|website=The Beijing News|script-title=zh:武汉对进出人员加强管控 市长呼吁：市民尽量不要出武汉|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060638/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/22/677736.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} The city authority began to require all citizens to wear a mask in public places.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/01-22/9067622.shtml|date=2020-01-22|work=China News Service|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200123100937/http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/01-22/9067622.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-23|script-title=zh:武汉要求在公共场所佩戴口罩}}

On January 20, at an NHC press conference in Wuhan, Zhong Nanshan advised the public to wear face masks and avoid visiting Wuhan unless it was highly urgent. He also urged the city to perform a temperature check for anyone leaving and take compulsory measures to stop fever patients from leaving.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/s7847/202001/8d735f0bb50b45af928d9944d16950c8.shtml|date=2020-01-21|website=National Health Commission|script-title=zh:国家卫生健康委员会高级别专家组就新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎疫情答记者问|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129181117/http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/s7847/202001/8d735f0bb50b45af928d9944d16950c8.shtml|archive-date=29 January 2020}} On the following day, Mayor of Wuhan Zhou Xianwang urged Wuhan's citizens not to leave the city and non-Wuhan citizens to avoid coming in an interview by state media. The NHC also warned that a coronavirus outbreak had happened in Wuhan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/22/677795.html|date=2020-01-22|website=The Beijing News|script-title=zh:国家卫健委：疫情在武汉局部暴发 已倡议不要进出武汉|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060637/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/22/677795.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}

On the same day, China Railway and Civil Aviation Administration announced that the passengers were allowed to cancel stays or change dates for free if they booked a ticket from or to Wuhan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/01/22/airlines-and-train-operators-offer-refunds-for-wuhan-bound-services-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/|title=Airlines and train operators offer refunds for Wuhan-bound services amid coronavirus outbreak|website=Business Traveller|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131194805/https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/01/22/airlines-and-train-operators-offer-refunds-for-wuhan-bound-services-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/|archive-date=31 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Wuhan-bound railway tickets purchased via Hong Kong's MTR could also be refunded.{{Cite web|url=https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/hk/1685688/即時-港聞-武漢肺炎-港鐵-已購高鐵車票來往武漢乘客-如需退票將獲全數退款|work=Headline Daily|language=zh-yue-Hant-HK|script-title=zh:【武漢肺炎】港鐵：已購高鐵車票來往武漢乘客 如需退票將獲全數退款|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203130639/https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/hk/1685688/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82-%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E-%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E6%B8%AF%E9%90%B5-%E5%B7%B2%E8%B3%BC%E9%AB%98%E9%90%B5%E8%BB%8A%E7%A5%A8%E4%BE%86%E5%BE%80%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E4%B9%98%E5%AE%A2-%E5%A6%82%E9%9C%80%E9%80%80%E7%A5%A8%E5%B0%87%E7%8D%B2%E5%85%A8%E6%95%B8%E9%80%80%E6%AC%BE|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Wuhan announced the postponement of its tourism promotion activities for the Chinese New Year.

On January 22, Li Lanjuan, one of the NHC experts sent to Wuhan, flew to Beijing and advised the quarantine of Wuhan, which was soon adopted.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/27/c_1125506303.htm|date=2020-01-27|website=Xinhua|script-title=zh:此刻，他们堪称"国士"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128215313/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/27/c_1125506303.htm|archive-date=28 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}{{Cite journal|date=2020-02-01|script-title=zh:率先提出武汉"封城"！这位中国感染病学科唯一女院士，不惧疫情，73岁再战一线|url=https://wxn.qq.com/cmsid/20200131A0IXO500|url-status=live|journal=环球人物|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060636/https://wxn.qq.com/cmsid/20200131A0IXO500|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}} On the early morning of January 23, the government of Wuhan announced a sudden lockdown at around 2 PM which said, "Since 10:00 AM on January 23, 2020, the city's bus, metro, ferry, coach services will be suspended. Without a special reason, the citizens should not leave Wuhan. Departure from the airport and railway stations will be temporarily prohibited. Recovery time of the services will be announced in further notice."{{Cite web|url=https://www.dwnews.com/全球/60165996/武汉肺炎专家对武汉封城表震惊世卫代表回应是否奏效|date=2020-01-23|work=Duowei News|language=zh-CN|script-title=zh:【武汉肺炎】专家对武汉封城表震惊 世卫代表回应是否奏效|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203060644/https://www.dwnews.com/%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83/60165996/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E4%B8%93%E5%AE%B6%E5%AF%B9%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E5%B0%81%E5%9F%8E%E8%A1%A8%E9%9C%87%E6%83%8A%E4%B8%96%E5%8D%AB%E4%BB%A3%E8%A1%A8%E5%9B%9E%E5%BA%94%E6%98%AF%E5%90%A6%E5%A5%8F%E6%95%88|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Thus, Wuhan became a locked-down area of a Class A Infectious Disease according to The Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infections Diseases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hk01.com/周報/428733/武漢肺炎-抗疫路上-同理心比指摘更重要|last1=王翠榮|last2=王翠榮|date=2020-02-02|work=HK01|language=zh-HK|script-title=zh:【武漢肺炎】抗疫路上 同理心比指摘更重要|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203113958/https://www.hk01.com/%E5%91%A8%E5%A0%B1/428733/%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E6%8A%97%E7%96%AB%E8%B7%AF%E4%B8%8A-%E5%90%8C%E7%90%86%E5%BF%83%E6%AF%94%E6%8C%87%E6%91%98%E6%9B%B4%E9%87%8D%E8%A6%81|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}

File:Last_train_of_Wuhan_metro_before_authorities_lock_down_the_city_for_the_Wuhan_coronavirus_outbreak.jpg at 10:00AM when the lockdown officially began on January 23.]]

Researchers estimate that the restrictions reduced the basic reproduction number from 2.35 to 1.05, allowing the epidemic to be manageable for Wuhan.{{cite journal |last1=Kucharski |first1=Adam J |last2=Russell |first2=Timothy W |last3=Diamond |first3=Charlie |last4=Liu |first4=Yang |last5=Edmunds |first5=John |last6=Funk |first6=Sebastian |last7=Eggo |first7=Rosalind M |last8=Sun |first8=Fiona |last9=Jit |first9=Mark |last10=Munday |first10=James D |last11=Davies |first11=Nicholas |last12=Gimma |first12=Amy |last13=van Zandvoort |first13=Kevin |last14=Gibbs |first14=Hamish |last15=Hellewell |first15=Joel |last16=Jarvis |first16=Christopher I |last17=Clifford |first17=Sam |last18=Quilty |first18=Billy J |last19=Bosse |first19=Nikos I |last20=Abbott |first20=Sam |last21=Klepac |first21=Petra |last22=Flasche |first22=Stefan |title=Early dynamics of transmission and control of COVID-19: a mathematical modelling study |journal=The Lancet Infectious Diseases |date=March 2020 |volume=20 |issue=5 |pages=553–558 |doi=10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30144-4|pmid=32171059 |pmc=7158569 |doi-access=free }}

Railway

China Railway announced later on the day of lockdown (January 23) that departure from railway stations in Wuhan would be stopped in order to assist the epidemic control, but transferring trains at Wuchang Station, Wuhan Station and Hankou Station would be still allowed.{{cite news|url=http://www.chinanews.com/cj/2020/01-23/9068399.shtml|date=2020-01-23|work=China News Service|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124134456/http://www.chinanews.com/cj/2020/01-23/9068399.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-24|script-title=zh:铁路部门七项措施全力防控疫情}}{{Cite news|url=https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/hk/1686921/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82-%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E-%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E6%B8%AF%E9%90%B5-%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E5%81%9C%E5%94%AE%E4%BE%86%E5%BE%80%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E9%AB%98%E9%90%B5%E8%BB%8A%E7%A5%A8-%E4%BB%8D%E7%B6%AD%E6%8C%81%E5%88%97%E8%BB%8A%E6%9C%8D%E5%8B%99|date=2020-01-23|work=Headline Daily|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080926/https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/hk/1686921/%25E5%258D%25B3%25E6%2599%2582-%25E6%25B8%25AF%25E8%2581%259E-%25E6%25AD%25A6%25E6%25BC%25A2%25E8%2582%25BA%25E7%2582%258E-%25E6%25B8%25AF%25E9%2590%25B5-%25E5%258D%25B3%25E6%2599%2582%25E5%2581%259C%25E5%2594%25AE%25E4%25BE%2586%25E5%25BE%2580%25E6%25AD%25A6%25E6%25BC%25A2%25E9%25AB%2598%25E9%2590%25B5%25E8%25BB%258A%25E7%25A5%25A8-%25E4%25BB%258D%25E7%25B6%25AD%25E6%258C%2581%25E5%2588%2597%25E8%25BB%258A%25E6%259C%258D%25E5%258B%2599|archive-date=2020-01-27|script-title=zh:【武漢肺炎】港鐵：即時停售來往武漢高鐵車票 仍維持列車服務}} It also extended free refund and changing policy that originally applied to Wuhan to all parts of mainland China to reduce population movement.{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/23/c_1125498261.htm|date=2020-01-23|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080907/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/23/c_1125498261.htm|archive-date=2020-01-27|publisher=Xinhua|script-title=zh:铁路免收退票费扩至全国}} On January 24, China Railway Wuhan (CRW) announced suspension of all of its own train services. The company further announced suspension of most corporate train services that it provided, except 6.5 pairs of trains that only runs within Henan Province. Only Jiangan Motive Power Depot, Jiangan Rail Yard and Wuhanbei Station would be fully in service while only a small number of people are reserved for other CRW facilities, and all of the other employees would be on vacation.{{cite news|author=路炳阳|url=https://news.sina.cn/2020-01-25/detail-iihnzhha4596089.d.html|date=2020-01-25|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125141326/https://news.sina.cn/2020-01-25/detail-iihnzhha4596089.d.html|archive-date=2020-01-25|publisher=Sina News|script-title=zh:武汉铁路局公告停运400余趟车次 封闭61个站点|script-work=zh:中国经营网}}

Flight

The Tianhe International Airport, Wuhan's only civil airport, suspended all commercial flights from 1 PM on January 23. Various airlines including Cathay Dragon, Spring Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled their scheduled Wuhan-bound flights. On January 24, the airport was only open to international flights inbound which were required to leave without any passengers. The two cargo planes of SF Express which carried supplies for epidemic control were also allowed to land at the airport.{{cite news|url=http://www.caacnews.com.cn/1/5/202001/t20200124_1290945.html|date=2020-01-24|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080859/http://www.caacnews.com.cn/1/5/202001/t20200124_1290945.html|archive-date=2020-01-27|publisher=CAAC News|script-title=zh:24日武汉天河机场零旅客出港 两架飞机运医疗物资抵汉}}

Road and waterway

File:航拍武汉中心城区机动车禁行后道路：少有车辆踪影-Wg-8rMZAsY0.webm

Shanghai, Sichuan and Jiangsu cancelled all waterway and road passenger transport services to Wuhan and stopped approval of any chartered coaches to Wuhan{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/23/678371.html|author=裴剑飞|date=2020-01-23|publisher=The Beijing Times|script-title=zh:防控疫情 上海、四川、江苏停发前往武汉的长途客运|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124064347/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/23/678371.html|archive-date=2020-01-24|access-date=2020-01-23}} before the Ministry of Transport called all passenger transport services off for Wuhan and asked the transport sectors to refund the affected tickets for free on January 23.{{Cite web|url=http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2020/0123/c1008-31561451.html|date=2020-01-23|publisher=人民网|script-title=zh:紧急通知！全国暂停进入武汉的道路水路客运班线发班|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123142121/http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2020/0123/c1008-31561451.html|archive-date=2020-01-23|access-date=2020-01-23}}{{cite news|url=https://www.yicai.com/news/100479478.html|script-title=zh:交通运输部：暂停进入武汉市的省际、市际包车客运业务|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=April 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425092756/https://www.yicai.com/news/100479478.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/23/c_1125497858.htm|work=xinhuanet.com|script-title=zh:交通运输部：暂停进入武汉的道路水路客运班线发班-Xinhua|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124195642/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-01/23/c_1125497858.htm|archive-date=2020-01-24|access-date=2020-01-23}}

Although the announcement of lockdown did not mention whether the citizens were allowed to leave Wuhan in their own cars, 30 entries to highways were cut by 14:00.{{Cite web|url=http://m.cnhubei.com/content/2020-01/23/content_12641908.html|date=2020-01-23|website=湖北日报|script-title=zh:截至23日14时10分，湖北高速公路共计30个收费站所入口封闭|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127082450/http://m.cnhubei.com/content/2020-01/23/content_12641908.html|archive-date=January 27, 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} The roadblocks were said to be used in some areas according to BBC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51232433|date=2020-01-24|work=BBC News 中文|access-date=2020-02-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127083808/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51232433|archive-date=27 January 2020|language=zh-Hans|script-title=zh:武汉疫情下"封城"是怎么操作的，到底有没有用？}} At 23:00, Wuhan CEC decided to stop vehicle for hire services by 12:00 on January 24 and to halve the number of street taxis.{{Cite news|author=廖君 冯国栋|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5615812|date=2020-01-23|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080920/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5615812|archive-date=2020-01-27|publisher=Xinhua|script-title=zh:武汉网约出租车停运，巡游出租车实行单双号限行}} Since January 26, the private cars were prohibited from driving in downtown Wuhan.{{Cite web|url=https://news.163.com/20/0125/18/F3OMR5UA0001899O.html|date=2020-01-25|website=China Business|script-title=zh:26日起武汉私家车禁止通行 患者家属：怎么送饭？|via=Netease|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126063150/https://news.163.com/20/0125/18/F3OMR5UA0001899O.html|archive-date=26 January 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}{{cite news|author1=徐蕾|url=https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_25_533102.shtml|access-date=2020-01-25|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125083522/https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_25_533102.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-25|location=Shanghai|language=zh-cn|script-title=zh:明日起，武汉中心城区实行机动车禁行管理|script-work=zh:观察者网}}

On the morning of Wuhan's lockdown (January 23), the hashtag ({{zh|labels=no|s=#逃离武汉#}}), literally meaning "fleeing Wuhan", hit the top of Weibo topics.{{Cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3048974|date=2020-01-23|access-date=2020-01-23|publisher=Liberty Times|language=zh-TW|script-title=zh:武漢肺炎》高調「#逃離武漢」 封城前夕至少30萬人逃出 - 國際 - 自由時報電子報|archive-date=January 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126073816/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3048974|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/chi/1686804/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B-%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E5%B8%82%E6%B0%91%E5%B0%81%E5%9F%8E%E5%89%8D%E9%80%83%E9%9B%A2-%E7%81%AB%E8%BB%8A%E7%AB%99%E5%87%8C%E6%99%A8%E6%8E%92%E9%95%B7%E9%BE%8D|date=2020-01-23|work=Headline Daily|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080903/https://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/chi/1686804/%25E5%258D%25B3%25E6%2599%2582-%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E5%259C%258B-%25E6%25AD%25A6%25E6%25BC%25A2%25E8%2582%25BA%25E7%2582%258E-%25E5%25B8%2582%25E6%25B0%2591%25E5%25B0%2581%25E5%259F%258E%25E5%2589%258D%25E9%2580%2583%25E9%259B%25A2-%25E7%2581%25AB%25E8%25BB%258A%25E7%25AB%2599%25E5%2587%258C%25E6%2599%25A8%25E6%258E%2592%25E9%2595%25B7%25E9%25BE%258D|archive-date=2020-01-27|script-title=zh:【武漢肺炎】市民封城前逃離 火車站凌晨排長龍}} Wuhan's citizens rushed to the railway stations to leave the city before lockdown, leading to long queues and many later posted about their success.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chinapress.com.my/20200124/%e2%97%a4%e6%ad%a6%e6%b1%89%e8%82%ba%e7%82%8e%e2%97%a230%e4%b8%87%e6%ad%a6%e6%b1%89%e4%ba%ba%e6%b0%91-%e4%b8%8a%e6%bc%94%e9%80%83%e5%87%ba%e7%96%ab%e5%8c%ba/|language=zh-my|script-title=zh:◤武汉肺炎◢30万武汉人民 上演逃出疫区{{!}}中國報|access-date=2020-02-03|script-website=zh:中國報 China Press|archive-date=July 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728044525/https://www.chinapress.com.my/20200124/%E2%97%A4%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E2%97%A230%E4%B8%87%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E4%BA%BA%E6%B0%91-%E4%B8%8A%E6%BC%94%E9%80%83%E5%87%BA%E7%96%AB%E5%8C%BA/|url-status=live}} Some of them are criticized for their lack of responsibility after they talked about managing to bypass the temperature check by taking antipyretics.{{Cite web|url=https://topick.hket.com/article/2549027|script-title=zh:【武漢封城】武漢封城30萬人逃城 發燒居民食退燒藥降溫連夜撤離|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203075218/https://topick.hket.com/article/2549027|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03|script-website=zh:香港經濟日報}} Almost 300 thousand left the city by train before the lockdown, according to China Railway Wuhan.

Zhou Xianwang, the Mayor of Wuhan said that by January 23, 5 million Wuhan's citizens left the city for the Chinese New Year vacation, while 9 million remained in the city.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dwnews.com/中国/60166220/武汉肺炎武汉市长周先旺证实已有近500万人离开武汉|last=Gao|first=Jiangjin|date=2020-01-26|work=Duowei News|language=zh-CN|script-title=zh:【武汉肺炎】武汉市长周先旺证实已有近500万人离开武汉|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202154120/https://www.dwnews.com/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/60166220/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E5%B8%82%E9%95%BF%E5%91%A8%E5%85%88%E6%97%BA%E8%AF%81%E5%AE%9E%E5%B7%B2%E6%9C%89%E8%BF%91500%E4%B8%87%E4%BA%BA%E7%A6%BB%E5%BC%80%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-02}} Data analysis by China Business Network showed that each year, only around half of the residents celebrated the Chinese New Year in the city, while 2/3 of those who left the city went to the other parts of Hubei. The rest left for the other Chinese provinces and overseas. Henan, Hunan, Anhui were the top 3 domestic destinations for these, while Bangkok, Singapore and Tokyo were the top 3 overseas destinations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yicai.com/news/100481655.html|website=YiCai|script-title=zh:离开武汉的500多万人都去了哪里？大数据告诉你|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203075215/https://www.yicai.com/news/100481655.html|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}}

File:Region_of_Hubei_quarantine.png{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1509/|title=Hubei Shennongjia|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226132349/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1509/|archive-date=26 December 2019|access-date=2020-02-05}} was the only area that was not quarantined.{{Cite web|url=https://news.ifeng.com/c/7ta0tY8kKUj|date=2020-01-27|website=Caijing|script-title=zh:不止有武汉：除神农架外，湖北所有城市进入"封城"状态|via=iFeng|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204120319/https://news.ifeng.com/c/7ta0tY8kKUj|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-04}}]]

Soon after Wuhan's lockdown, Huanggang and Ezhou, two Hubei cities bordering Wuhan, followed suit, suspending their public transport systems.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51222054|date=2020-01-23|website=BBC中文网|script-title=zh:武汉肺炎：黄冈、鄂州封城 三个城市实施"检疫隔离"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125001341/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51222054|archive-date=2020-01-25|access-date=2020-01-31}} By January 24, Huangshi, Chibi, Jingzhou, Yichang, Xiaogan, Jingmen, Zhijiang, Qianjiang, Xiantao, Xianning, Dangyang and Enshi restricted inbound and outbound traffic, affecting over 40 million residents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%8C%81%E7%BB%AD%E6%89%A9%E6%95%A3-%E6%B9%96%E5%8C%97%E4%B8%8B%E4%BB%A4%E5%B0%8115%E4%B8%AA%E5%9F%8E%E5%B8%82/a-52132769|access-date=2020-01-25|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124234427/https://www.dw.com/zh/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%8C%81%E7%BB%AD%E6%89%A9%E6%95%A3-%E6%B9%96%E5%8C%97%E4%B8%8B%E4%BB%A4%E5%B0%8115%E4%B8%AA%E5%9F%8E%E5%B8%82/a-52132769|archive-date=2020-01-24|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=zh-Hans|script-title=zh:武汉肺炎病毒持续扩散 湖北下令封15个城市 {{!}} DW {{!}} 24.01.2020}} With Xiangyang becoming the last Hubei city to declare lockdown, all of Hubei's cities were quarantined by January 27, with local access to the road and railway networks temporarily shut down. Forest-covered Shennongjia was the only part of Hubei that had not been locked down.

At least 56 million Hubei's residents were isolated. All public places except hospitals, supermarkets, farmers' markets, gas stations and drug stores were closed.{{Cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Nicola|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/24/china-locks-eight-cities-pledges-new-hospital-within-six-days/|title=China locks down 14 cities as Wuhan coronavirus spreads|date=2020-01-24|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2020-02-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201140643/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/24/china-locks-eight-cities-pledges-new-hospital-within-six-days/|archive-date=1 February 2020|last2=Zhong|first2=Yiyin|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|last3=Yan|first3=Sophia}} Starting from February 1, the Hubei city of Huanggang introduced a curfew which allows only one member of a local family to shop on the streets every two days, making it the first city to restrict the people from going outdoors.

File:Covid 19 new cases and deaths China showing Hubei lockdown.png

Semi-log graph of 3-day rolling average of new cases and deaths in China during COVID-19 epidemic showing the lockdown on January 23 and partial lifting on March 19.

The exodus from Wuhan before the lockdown resulted in angered responses on Sina Weibo from the residents in the other cities, who were concerned about the spreading of the novel coronavirus to their cities. Some in Wuhan were concerned with the availability of provisions and especially medical supplies during the lockdown.{{Cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/wuhan-lockdown-china-takes-extreme-measures-to-stop-virus-spread/a-52120126 |title=Wuhan lockdown: China takes extreme measures to stop virus spread {{!}} DW {{!}} 23 January 2020 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |access-date=23 January 2020 |archive-date=January 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124172946/https://www.dw.com/en/wuhan-lockdown-china-takes-extreme-measures-to-stop-virus-spread/a-52120126 |url-status=live }}

The World Health Organization called the Wuhan lockdown unprecedented and said that it showed how committed that the authorities were to contain a viral breakout. Later, the WHO clarified that the move was not a recommendation that WHO made and that the authorities would have to wait to evaluate its effectiveness. The WHO separately stated that the possibility of locking an entire city down was "new to science".{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51224504 |title=How is China coping with the coronavirus outbreak? |date=24 January 2020 |publisher=BBC |location=United Kingdom |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130121226/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51224504 |url-status=live }}

The CSI 300 Index, an aggregate measure of the top 300 stocks in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, dropped almost 3% on 23 January 2020, the biggest single-day loss in almost 9 months after the Wuhan lockdown. As it was announced, investors sought a safe haven for their investments.{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/china-stocks-slump-3-on-wuhan-lockdown-over-virus-outbreak/articleshow/73548510.cms |title=China stocks slump 3% on Wuhan lockdown over virus outbreak |date=23 January 2020 |work=The Economic Times |location=India |access-date=24 January 2020 |archive-date=January 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126073829/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/china-stocks-slump-3-on-wuhan-lockdown-over-virus-outbreak/articleshow/73548510.cms |url-status=dead }}

The unprecedented scale of this lockdown generated controversy and at least one expert criticized this measure as "risky business" that "could very easily backfire" by forcing otherwise healthy people in Wuhan to stay in close conditions with infected people. Drawing a cordon sanitaire around a city of 11 million people raises inevitable ethical concerns. It also drew comparisons to the lockdown of the poor West Point neighborhood in Liberia during the 2014 ebola outbreak which was lifted after ten days.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/world/asia/coronavirus-quarantines-history.html |title=Scale of China's Wuhan Shutdown Is Believed to Be Without Precedent |last=Levenson |first=Michael |date=22 January 2020 |work=The New York Times |access-date=25 January 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502110054/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/world/asia/coronavirus-quarantines-history.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/world/africa/liberias-military-tries-to-remedy-tension-over-ebola-quarantine.html |title=Liberia's Military Tries to Remedy Tension Over Ebola Quarantine |last=MacDougall |first=Clair |date=12 May 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=25 January 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716011317/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/world/africa/liberias-military-tries-to-remedy-tension-over-ebola-quarantine.html |archive-date=16 July 2017 |url-status=live }}

The lockdown caused panic in Wuhan, and many expressed concern about the city's ability to cope with the outbreak. A medical historian named Howard Markel argued that the Chinese government "may now be overreacting, imposing an unjustifiable burden on the population" and said that "incremental restrictions, enforced steadily and transparently tended to work far better than draconian measures."{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/opinion/china-wuhan-virus-quarantine.html |title=Opinion {{!}} Will the Largest Quarantine in History Just Make Things Worse? |last=Markel |first=Howard |date=27 January 2020 |work=The New York Times |access-date=27 January 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127165714/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/opinion/china-wuhan-virus-quarantine.html |archive-date=27 January 2020 |url-status=live }} Others such as Anthony Fauci, the director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, defended the intent behind the lockdowns, citing that the lockdowns bought the world a "delay to essentially prepare better." A mathematical epidemiologist named Gerardo Chowell of Georgia State University stated that, based on mathematical modelling, "containment strategies implemented in China are successfully reducing transmission."{{cite web|url=https://www.statnews.com/2020/02/21/coronavirus-wuhan-quarantine-bought-world-time-to-prepare/|title=Wuhan quarantine bought the world time to prepare for Covid-19|date=21 February 2020|website=STAT|access-date=26 February 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728044525/https://www.statnews.com/2020/02/21/coronavirus-wuhan-quarantine-bought-world-time-to-prepare/|url-status=live}}

Nonetheless, after northern Italy became a new hotspot of the outbreak in late February, the Italian government enacted what has been called a "Wuhan-style lockdown" by quarantining nearly a dozen towns of 50,000 people in the provinces of Lombardy and Veneto.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/italy-struggles-virus-doesn-respect-borders-200225165436970.html|title=Italy struggles with virus 'that doesn't respect borders'|last=Oddone|first=Elisa|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=26 February 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918182300/https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/italy-struggles-virus-doesn-respect-borders-200225165436970.html|url-status=live}} Iran, another developing hotspot for the coronavirus as of February 25, came under calls to assume similar lockdown procedures as China and Italy. The security experts such as Gal Luft of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security in Washington said that "The best way for Iran to deal with the disease is to do precisely what China did – quarantine." and "If Wuhan with its 11 million population can be under quarantine, so can Tehran with its 8 million."{{cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3052152/fears-mount-coronavirus-outbreak-worsens-sanctions-hit-iran|title=Fears mount as coronavirus outbreak worsens in sanctions-hit Iran|date=25 February 2020|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=26 February 2020|archive-date=December 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219104900/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3052152/fears-mount-coronavirus-outbreak-worsens-sanctions-hit-iran|url-status=live}}

Although early cases surrounding an animal market suggested animal-to-human transmission, more evidence surfaced to support the human-to-human transmission of the virus. Despite the expert-led investigation and early signs of human-to-human transmission, including a hospital-acquired infection (nosocomial) case confirmed on 10 January according to Caixin, the local government of Wuhan denied any case of nosocomial infection and maintained that "there was no clear sign of human-to-human transmission" until January 15, when Wuhan's Municipal Health Commission (MHC) said on its website that "the result of present investigation shows no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission, but this does not rule out the possibility of such a transmission. The risk of continuous human-to-human transmission is low."{{cite web|url=http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/24/678679.html|script-title=zh:"武汉"封城"背后：确认病毒"人传人"的21天" |date=Jan 24, 2020 |website=The Beijing News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123220508/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/01/24/678679.html|archive-date=23 January 2020|access-date=30 January 2020|url-status=live}}

The reported case number froze at 41 during the Hubei Lianghui and Wuhan Lianghui local parliament sessions between January 6–17, which the local authorities of Hubei and Wuhan said was due to the lack of PCR test kits for the new virus. However, Caixin stated that other sequencing techniques could be used to diagnose the virus within two days, without needing PCR kits.{{cite web|url=https://www.yicai.com/news/100485217.html|script-title=zh:特别报道：1月6日之后，12天病例零新增之谜|last1=Xu|first1=Bingqing|last2=Chen|first2=Rui|date=1 February 2020|website=YiMagazine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202092416/https://www.yicai.com/news/100485217.html|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2 February 2020}} Meanwhile, research groups at Imperial College London and Hong Kong University both estimated over 1000 cases in Wuhan as cases were being exported and confirmed overseas. Perceived discrepancies in the official Chinese data for the number of cases left many netizens doubtful,{{Citation|script-title=ja:中国 武漢の新型ウイルス肺炎でネット上に疑問の声|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200117/k10012249681000.html|script-website=ja:NHKニュース|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121044834/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200117/k10012249681000.html|archive-date=21 January 2020|url-status=dead}} with some mockingly labeling the virus "patriotic" for its appearance of mainly infecting the Chinese after they left the country.{{Citation|title=Years after SARS, a more confident China faces a new virus|url=https://apnews.com/0bf5cd116c250483a8232533d41edc69|work=Associated Press|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818132558/https://apnews.com/0bf5cd116c250483a8232533d41edc69|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2204014.html|script-title=zh:网民讥"只出国不出省，是个爱国病毒"|date=19 January 2020|website=Sinchew Daily|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127093712/https://www.sinchew.com.my/content/content_2204014.html|archive-date=27 January 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/zh/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%97%85%E6%AF%921700%E5%92%8C45/a-52050633|script-title=zh:武汉新型病毒：1700+和45 {{!}} DW {{!}} 18 January 2020|date=18 January 2020|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=zh-CN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123153655/https://www.dw.com/zh/%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E6%96%B0%E5%9E%8B%E7%97%85%E6%AF%921700%E5%92%8C45/a-52050633|archive-date=23 January 2020|access-date=3 February 2020}}

Hubei Government's press meeting on January 26 was described as the "scene of a massive car crash" by the BBC, which led to widespread dissatisfaction. Despite the compulsory face mask law, Governor Wang Xiaodong did not wear a face mask, whilst the other two official hosts—Wuhan Mayor Zhou Xianwang and Provincial Party Secretary Bie Bixiong—wore face masks incorrectly. The Governor said that Xiantao, a Hubei city, was capable of producing 10.8 billion masks annually; this was said after he corrected himself twice. While the Governor admitted a severe shortage of medical supplies in Hubei, Mayor Zhou of Wuhan said that the shortage had been fully alleviated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51262149|script-title=zh:武汉肺炎"车祸现场"发布会 公众愤怒中国官员管治能力低下|date=27 January 2020|work=BBC News 中文|access-date=3 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203112857/https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-51262149|archive-date=3 February 2020|language=zh-Hans}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in mainland China}}

After lockdown, Wuhan's streets were silent, except for those around hospitals.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51276656|title=Diary of a life in locked-down Wuhan|date=2020-01-30|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203155030/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51276656|archive-date=3 February 2020|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6488473/canadians-china-wuhan-coronavirus/|title=Silent streets: Canadians describe life in China during coronavirus outbreak|website=Global News|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204130632/https://globalnews.ca/news/6488473/canadians-china-wuhan-coronavirus/|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-04}} A witness described that a "once-bustling city became a ghost town overnight." Although grocery stores and shops remained open, most people stayed at home. The food supply was steady, despite there having been a shortage in the early stages, and the local government promised to provide enough vegetables, rice and meat. Similar scenes were observed in other Hubei cities after lockdown, including Enshi{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-02/04/c_1210460910.htm|last=薛笔犁|website=Xinhua|script-title=zh:"封城"手记：没有人是一座孤岛-Xinhua|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204130629/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-02/04/c_1210460910.htm|archive-date=4 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-04}} and Shiyan.{{Cite news|url=http://www.syiptv.com/article/show/113538|date=2020-01-29|access-date=2020-02-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204130635/http://www.syiptv.com/article/show/113538|archive-date=4 February 2020|script-title=zh:武汉、十堰相继"封城"后，东风人都经历了什么？|script-work=zh:十堰广电网}}

On the first day of the lockdown a large number of febrile patients were queued outside healthcare facilities whilst hospitals and healthcare professional struggled to keep up with the demand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.sg/wuhan-hospital-staff-adult-diapers-while-treating-coronavirus-patients-2020-1/|title=Hospital staff in Wuhan are wearing adult diapers because they don't have time to pee while caring for an overwhelming number of coronavirus patients|last=Frias|first=Lauren|date=2020-01-25|website=Business Insider Singapore|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203113953/https://www.businessinsider.sg/wuhan-hospital-staff-adult-diapers-while-treating-coronavirus-patients-2020-1/|archive-date=3 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Wuhan MHC admitted that they had a shortage of beds and long outpatient queues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/24/china/wuhan-coronavirus-update-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Coronavirus death toll in China hits 41 as medical staff struggle to cope|last=Regan|first=Helen|website=CNN|date=January 24, 2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202102759/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/24/china/wuhan-coronavirus-update-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=2 February 2020|access-date=2020-02-03}} Multiple major Hubei hospitals began to request medical supplies including surgical masks and other protective equipment via social media almost at the same time when Wang Xiaodong, the Governor of Hubei promised to the people that there would be no shortage of supplies in a press conference after lockdown.

On January 22, Hubei Provincial Government said that as of January 31, Hubei Province could only produce 8 million medical masks, 2 million protective clothing and 1,200 infrared thermometers which could not meet the need of the province's epidemic prevention. Hubei Province planned to request support from the Central Government including 40 million medical masks, 5 million protective clothing and 5,000 sets of infrared thermometers.{{cite web|url=https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_22_532701.shtml?s=zwytt|date=2020-01-22|website=People's Daily|language=zh-cn|script-title=zh:湖北拟请求国家紧急支援口罩、防护服等医用物资|access-date=2020-01-23|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729024559/https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_22_532701.shtml?s=zwytt|url-status=live}} On January 23, the Wuhan CEC set up a 24-hour telephone service to receive donations from all sectors of the society.{{Cite news|url=http://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202001/23/WS5e293a60a3107bb6b579b670.html|date=2020-01-23|work=China Daily|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080903/http://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202001/23/WS5e293a60a3107bb6b579b670.html|archive-date=2020-01-27|script-title=zh:武汉市新型肺炎防控指挥部发布第3号通告 接收社会各界爱心捐赠}}

On January 26, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said at a press conference that Hubei Province needed an estimated 3 million sets of protective clothing per month. The ministry admitted that national production capacity was not meeting demand and promised that in addition to the central reserve, the state was also seeking to purchase overseas equipment such as protective clothing and face masks.{{cite news|url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1504931-20200126.htm|work=news.rthk.hk|access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127151940/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1504931-20200126.htm|archive-date=2020-01-27|language=zh-hk|script-title=zh:當局指湖北省每月須3百萬件防護服 暫難完全滿足需求 - RTHK}}{{cite news|url=https://news.now.com/home/international/player?newsId=378204|work=Now News|date=January 26, 2020 |access-date=2020-01-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126130845/https://news.now.com/home/international/player%3FnewsId%3D378204|archive-date=2020-01-26|language=zh-hk|script-title=zh:工信部承認全國防護服生產力未能滿足湖北省需求}}

On February 2, Cao Xuejun, MIIT's deputy director general said that around 60% of the mask factories restarted production. They could produce 10 million masks per day. But, the director also acknowledged a gap between production capacity and demand of the key medical and protective products and promised to prioritize Wuhan and Hubei's needs.{{cite news|url=http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202002/02/WS5e36395ce4b002ffe99404c9.html|work=bjd.com.cn|script-title=zh:我国口罩产能已恢复六成，已向湖北发送N95口罩13.4万|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728232622/http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202002/02/WS5e36395ce4b002ffe99404c9.html|url-status=dead}}

File:Third_Military_Medical_University_medical_team_boarding_Il-76_aircraft.jpg was boarding a military Il-76 to leave for Wuhan on 24 January.]]

{{See also|Huoshenshan Hospital|Leishenshan Hospital}}On January 23, the day of Wuhan's lockdown, to relieve the shortage, the municipal government invited China Construction Third Engineering Bureau to build a makeshift hospital that resembled Xiaotangshan Hospital in Beijing during the 2003 SARS outbreak in Caidian, Wuhan. The hospital was later named Huoshenshan Hospital{{cite news|url=https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-01-24/doc-iihnzhha4510192.shtml|date=2020-01-24|work=新浪网新闻中心|access-date=2020-01-24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080852/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-01-24/doc-iihnzhha4510192.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-27|script-title=zh:武汉"小汤山"医院定名火神山医院 可容1000张床位}}{{cite news|url=https://m.21jingji.com/article/20200123/herald/20614cb23ecee759c80b14206bebdc82.html|date=2020-01-23|access-date=2020-01-23|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123180544/https://m.21jingji.com/article/20200123/herald/20614cb23ecee759c80b14206bebdc82.html|archive-date=2020-01-23|script-title=zh:武汉将借鉴小汤山模式 建专门医院集中收治新型冠状病毒患者|script-work=zh:21世纪经济报道}} and was expected to be finished by February 3.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/24/c_1125499630.htm|date=2020-01-24|work=Xinhua|script-title=zh:武汉将参照"小汤山"模式建专门医院救治新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎患者|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127080907/http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/24/c_1125499630.htm|archive-date=2020-01-27|access-date=2020-01-24}} On the afternoon of 25, Wuhan CEC announced the building of another makeshift hospital with at least 1,300 beds called Leishenshan Hospital.{{cite news|author=《人民日报》客户端|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5633531|date=2020-01-25|access-date=2020-01-25|script-title=zh:武汉将再建一个"小汤山"医院，新增床位1300张|website=澎湃新闻|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231114/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5633531|url-status=live}}

On February 2, the construction of Huoshenshan Hospital was completed and the hospital was transferred to the military.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/china/gncj/2020-02-02/doc-iimxxste8220693.shtml|last=北京日报客户端|date=2020-02-02|work=finance.sina.com.cn|script-title=zh:报告"云监工" 火神山医院完工！|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202051711/https://finance.sina.com.cn/china/gncj/2020-02-02/doc-iimxxste8220693.shtml|archive-date=2020-02-02|access-date=2020-02-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-02-02/doc-iimxxste8232193.shtml|last=央视|date=2020-02-02|work=news.sina.com.cn|script-title=zh:武汉火神山医院正式交付|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202063759/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-02-02/doc-iimxxste8232193.shtml|archive-date=2020-02-02|access-date=2020-02-02}} 1,400 military doctors started to work in the hospital since February 3.{{cite news|url=http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202002/03/WS5e37e45be4b002ffe9940b36.html|script-title=zh:解放军进驻火神山第一晚做了什么？最新画面来了|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203100516/http://www.bjd.com.cn/a/202002/03/WS5e37e45be4b002ffe9940b36.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-02/02/c_1125521597.htm|access-date=2020-02-02|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202102505/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-02/02/c_1125521597.htm|archive-date=2020-02-02|script-title=zh:经中央军委主席习近平批准 军队抽组医疗力量承担武汉火神山医院医疗救治任务}}

Since Wuhan's healthcare system was overloaded, new laboratories had to be built at a rapid rate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-04/china-will-soon-find-out-if-mass-quarantine-worked-virus-update|title=Wuhan Test Lab Opens; CDC Ships Diagnostic Kits: Virus Update|date=2020-02-05|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2020-02-07|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205083349/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-04/china-will-soon-find-out-if-mass-quarantine-worked-virus-update|url-status=live}} On February 5, a 2000 square meter emergency detection laboratory named "Huo-Yan" ({{Zh|c=火眼|s=|t=|p=}}, or "Fire Eye" in English) was opened by BGI,{{Cite web|url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/826/china-virus-crisis-deepens-whistleblower-doctor-dies-doc-1oq8cx13|title=China virus crisis deepens as whistleblower doctor dies|website=AFP.com|date=January 16, 2012|language=en|access-date=2020-02-07|archive-date=April 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427170837/https://www.afp.com/en/news/826/china-virus-crisis-deepens-whistleblower-doctor-dies-doc-1oq8cx13|url-status=live}} which could process over 10,000 samples a day.{{cite news|url=http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2020/2/435435.shtm|script-title=zh:日检测量达万份的"火眼"实验室连夜试运行|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-date=February 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206123704/http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2020/2/435435.shtm|url-status=live}} The construction was overseen by BGI-founder Wang Jian and took just 5 days.{{Cite web|url=https://www.genengnews.com/insights/bgis-coronavirus-response-build-a-lab-in-wuhan-in-a-week/|title=BGI's Coronavirus Response? Build a Lab in Wuhan|date=2020-02-12|website=GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-27|archive-date=March 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307074925/https://www.genengnews.com/insights/bgis-coronavirus-response-build-a-lab-in-wuhan-in-a-week/|url-status=live}} Mathematical modelling has shown cases in Hubei would have been approximately 47% higher, and the corresponding cost of the tackling the quarantine would have doubled, had this testing capacity not been built.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

On January 24, 135 medical workers from Shanghai and 128 from Guangdong were sent to Wuhan to assist the local hospitals.{{Cite news|url=http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/01-25/9069414.shtml|date=2020-01-25|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126134447/http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/01-25/9069414.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-26|language=zh|script-title=zh:上海首批医疗队出征支援武汉疫情防控|script-work=zh:健康中国}}{{Cite news|author=任姗姗|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5622987|date=2020-01-24|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125150834/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5622987|archive-date=2020-01-25|language=zh|script-title=zh:广东135名医护人员即将驰援湖北|script-work=zh:广州日报}} On the evening of that day, 450 medical workers from three military medical universities were deployed to Wuhan on military aircraft.{{Cite news|author=周娜 孙兴维|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5628669|date=2020-01-25|work=澎湃新闻|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127071038/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5628669|archive-date=2020-01-27|language=zh|script-title=zh:解放军3支共450人支援湖北医疗队抵武汉，将开展救治工作}} On January 25, the medical workers from different provinces were sent to Wuhan including 138 from Sichuan, 135 from Zhejiang, 138 from Shandong, and 147 from Jiangsu.{{Cite news|url=https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/pic/134962.shtml|date=2020-01-25|work=中国新闻网|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125145219/https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/pic/134962.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-25|language=zh|script-title=zh:各地医疗队启程赴武汉支援}}{{Cite news|author=张煜欢 张斌 项菁 陈华|url=http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/01-25/9069644.shtml|date=2020-01-25|work=中国新闻网|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126133040/http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/01-25/9069644.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-26|language=zh|script-title=zh:浙江医疗队赴鄂支援：当"平凡人"披上非凡的外衣}} The NHC also sent experts in intensive medicine to the epidemic areas and formed 6 medical teams with a total of 1230 members to assist Wuhan and another 6 teams waiting for request.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5631798|date=2020-01-25|work=澎湃新闻|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127035808/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5631798|archive-date=2020-01-27|language=zh|script-title=zh:国家卫健委组建6支共1230人的医疗救治队驰援武汉}}

Wuhan hotels offered to help as many medical workers had difficulty arriving at their hospitals due to public transport suspension.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-07 |title=武汉医生驿站 ：为4万人次提供住宿 有退出也有坚守 |trans-title=Wuhan Doctor Station: Provide accommodation for 40,000 person-times, some quit and some stick to it |url=http://jl.ifeng.com/a/20200207/8178120_0.shtml |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=jl.ifeng.com }} On January 24, 85 hotels in Wuhan formed a working group to provide rooms without central air conditioning for medical workers for free.{{Cite news|author=唐莹莹|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5631130|date=2020-01-25|work=澎湃新闻|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127071040/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5631130|archive-date=2020-01-27|language=zh|script-title=zh:武汉85家酒店支援医护人员：已消毒完毕！免费给大家休息}} By the noon of January 25, there had been 120 hotels in the group.{{Cite news|author=唐莹莹|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5632969|date=2020-01-25|work=澎湃新闻|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127022225/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5632969|archive-date=2020-01-27|language=zh|script-title=zh:武汉支援医护人员酒店已近120家，协和医院附近全部住满}} Major hoteliers such as Tujia,{{Cite web|url=https://money.163.com/20/0124/21/F3MH15FF002580S6.html|script-title=zh:途家向武汉医护人员免费提供住宿：一线人员需休息_网易财经|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125132130/https://money.163.com/20/0124/21/F3MH15FF002580S6.html|archive-date=2020-01-25|date=January 24, 2020 }} Home Inn,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5632319|script-title=zh:首旅如家：武汉3家医院一公里内酒店为医务人员提供免费食宿_地产界_澎湃新闻-The Paper|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127035720/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5632319|archive-date=2020-01-27}} Ziroom,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ithome.com/0/470/092.htm|script-title=zh:自如开放武汉自如驿：向医护人员提供免费住宿|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125170259/https://www.ithome.com/0/470/092.htm|archive-date=2020-01-25}} and Danke{{Cite web|url=https://www.ithome.com/0/470/154.htm|script-title=zh:蛋壳公寓：为武汉医护人员提供专属免费住房|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126062029/https://www.ithome.com/0/470/154.htm|archive-date=2020-01-26}} offered free lodging for the medical workers in Wuhan. There were also people offering free rides to medical workers.

File:Water salute for Air China 042 from Wuhan with medical team.jpg

From March 17, the medical assistance teams began to leave Hubei with the easing of domestic epidemic.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

In Fang County, the government issued a notice stating that anyone having a fever would be awarded RMB¥1000 for voluntarily going to a hospital and anyone (Including doctors and the public) who reported someone with a fever would be awarded RMB¥500.{{Cite web|url=http://std.stheadline.com/daily/news-content-nocache.php?id=2147223&target=2|work=Sing Tao Daily|language=zh-hk|script-title=zh:湖北一地新規：發熱主動就診 獎1000元|access-date=2020-02-11|archive-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424234055/https://std.stheadline.com/daily/news-content-nocache.php?id=2147223&target=2|url-status=live}}

File:Wuhan citizens rush to buy vegetables during Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.jpg

Wuhan's local markets saw spikes in food prices shortly after lockdown. Despite calls for price control, the Wuhan CEC stated that commodities, food, medical protection equipment were well-stocked and in smooth supply, appealing to the public not to hoard the goods or buy them at exorbitant prices.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hk01.com/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/425692/%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2-%E5%B0%81%E5%9F%8E-%E6%B0%91%E7%9C%BE%E6%90%B6%E8%B3%BC%E9%A3%9F%E7%89%A9-%E4%B8%80%E6%A3%B5%E7%99%BD%E8%8F%9C%E6%80%A5%E6%BC%B2%E8%87%B350%E5%85%83|script-title=zh:【武漢肺炎】武漢「封城」民眾搶購食物 一棵白菜急漲至50元|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124232649/https://www.hk01.com/%E5%8D%B3%E6%99%82%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/425692/%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2%E8%82%BA%E7%82%8E-%E6%AD%A6%E6%BC%A2-%E5%B0%81%E5%9F%8E-%E6%B0%91%E7%9C%BE%E6%90%B6%E8%B3%BC%E9%A3%9F%E7%89%A9-%E4%B8%80%E6%A3%B5%E7%99%BD%E8%8F%9C%E6%80%A5%E6%BC%B2%E8%87%B350%E5%85%83|archive-date=2020-01-24|access-date=2020-01-24|script-work=zh:香港01|date=January 23, 2020 }} According to the Wuhan CEC, there were 5 million kilograms of processed rice, 4,000 tons of edible oil, 5,500 tons of pork, 2,000 tons of halal beef, 1,500 tons of sugar in Wuhan's market while the Government also prepared 16.3 million kilograms of processed rice, 8,000 tons of edible oil, arranged 1.55 million kilograms of eggs, 5 million kilograms of vegetables, 1 million kilograms of fresh fish, 200 tons of halal beef and 6,000 head of pork which would be released orderly through 300 plus supply outlets across the city.{{cite web|url=https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_23_532890.shtml|author=徐金波 张芹|publisher=Guancha.cn|script-title=zh:武汉储备食用油4000吨、猪肉5500吨、糖1500吨…可完全保障市民需求|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123151021/https://www.guancha.cn/politics/2020_01_23_532890.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-23|access-date=2020-01-24}} After being interviewed by local market regulation administrators, the supermarkets that were reported to have raised food prices normalized the prices.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sina.com.cn/s/2020-01-23/doc-iihnzahk5989417.shtml|date=23 January 2020|work=澎湃新闻|script-title=zh:武汉"涨价菜"商场负责人被政府约谈|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124023716/https://news.sina.com.cn/s/2020-01-23/doc-iihnzahk5989417.shtml|archive-date=2020-01-24|access-date=2020-01-24}}

China Railway Nanchang has been delivering key materials to Wuhan daily since January 25. The first batch of 160 tons of turnips has been transported to Wuhan through the private compartments of T147 and T168 trains.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jx.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/25/c_1125501453.htm|script-title=zh:"南铁抢运物资积极支援武汉应对疫情-新华网" |date=Jan 25, 2020 |website=Xinhuanet |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127084828/http://www.jx.xinhuanet.com/2020-01/25/c_1125501453.htm|archive-date=2020-01-27}} China Railway Hohhot also said that the first batch of 30 tons of potatoes were also sent to Wuhan by K598 and K1278 trains on January 26 to support Wuhan Epidemic Prevention and control.{{cite news|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5648848|date=2020-01-27|access-date=2020-01-28|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128111008/https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_5648848|archive-date=2020-01-28|publisher=澎湃新闻·澎湃号|script-title=zh:"从河南即食食品到内蒙古土豆：各方物资已上火车，目的地武汉"}}

Since the outbreak, several community managers were drafted to the front lines to help local residents with treatment and diagnosis oof the virus. With the increasing number of confirmed cases, workloads became tremendous.{{Cite web|url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-02-15/in-depth-wuhan-community-managers-drafted-for-front-line-fighting-epidemic-101515727.html|title=In Depth: Understaffed, Under-resourced and Overwhelmed — Coronavirus Early Response - Caixin Global|author1=Xiao Hui|author2=Bao Zhiming|author3=Gao Yu|author4=Han Wei|date=2020-02-15|editor-last=Simison|editor-first=Bob|website=Caixin Global|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728234405/https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-02-15/in-depth-wuhan-community-managers-drafted-for-front-line-fighting-epidemic-101515727.html|url-status=live}} Around 6000 taxis were allocated to the downtown communities. On January 25, they began providing free service for the residents, under the command of the community committees. Each community was expected to have 3–5 taxis under command. The committees were responsible for offering food and medicine for those who may face difficulties obtaining them on their own.{{Cite web|url=http://news.cnhubei.com/content/2020-01/24/content_12645346.html|script-title=zh:"武汉6000台出租车免费帮居民出行" |date=Jan 24, 2020 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125084310/http://news.cnhubei.com/content/2020-01/24/content_12645346.html|archive-date=January 25, 2020|access-date=2020-01-24|script-work=zh:武汉市新型肺炎防控指挥部|trans-work=Wuhan municipal task force designated with controlling coronavirus |website=cnhubei.com }}

Although the authority insisted on the role of community services in controlling the epidemic, the help acquired from the government was limited, such that the most they could do was to "file forms and repeatedly report about the patients' conditions," according to a community manager. They had no access to medical resources and not enough manpower and were unable to adequately assist the patients. Most community clinics did not have enough equipment such as protective gear and diagnosis tools to deal with the tasks assigned by the government to conduct preliminary screening for hospitals. Between January 22 and February 1, many patients were turned away without receiving proper medical assistance and quarantine measures as they could not receive a confirmed diagnosis.

On March 13, Huangshi{{Cite web |script-title=zh:"湖北黄石：解除市区交通管制，停办通行证" |url=https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-03-13/doc-iimxyqwa0259279.shtml |work=Sina News |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=2020-03-14 |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318020047/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2020-03-13/doc-iimxyqwa0259279.shtml |url-status=live }} and Qianjiang{{cite news |url=https://news.sina.cn/2020-03-13/detail-iimxxstf8849211.d.html?vt=4&pos=8&cid=56261 |script-title=zh:"湖北潜江市民燃放烟花庆祝解封" |work=Sina News |date=2020-03-13 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724184343/https://news.sina.cn/2020-03-13/detail-iimxxstf8849211.d.html?vt=4&pos=8&cid=56261 |url-status=live }} became the first Hubei cities to remove strict travel restrictions within part or all of their administrative confines. Activity gradually returned in Wuhan. By March 11, employees in public transport and essential services returned,{{cite web |title=Some in Wuhan told to go back to work as new coronavirus cases subside in China |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china/some-in-wuhan-told-to-go-back-to-work-as-new-coronavirus-cases-subside-in-china-idUSKBN20Y03W |website=Reuters |language=en |date=11 March 2020 |access-date=March 31, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729005334/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china/some-in-wuhan-told-to-go-back-to-work-as-new-coronavirus-cases-subside-in-china-idUSKBN20Y03W |url-status=live }} and by March 18 farmers returned to fields.{{cite web |last1=Hernández |first1=Javier C. |title=China Hits a Coronavirus Milestone: No New Local Infections |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/world/asia/china-coronavirus-zero-infections.html |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331173122/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/world/asia/china-coronavirus-zero-infections.html |archive-date=31 March 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |quote=The authorities said residents would each be assigned a colored health code based on their risk level that would allow those from medium- and low-risk areas to move around the province. a message instructing residents to resume work came blasting over a loudspeaker this month, echoing across the fertile hills. Villagers exploded firecrackers to celebrate the moment. |url-status=live}} By late March, some non-essential shops also opened.{{cite web |last1=Klender |first1=Joey |title=Tesla reopens Wuhan store as China regains footing after COVID-19 outbreak |url=https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-reopens-wuhan-store-as-china-regains-footing-after-covid-19-outbreak/ |website=TESLARATI |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=March 31, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728232502/https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-reopens-wuhan-store-as-china-regains-footing-after-covid-19-outbreak/ |url-status=live }} On March 25, the provincial government removed travel restrictions on most other cities in the province,{{cite web|title=China to lift travel restrictions in Hubei after months of coronavirus lockdown|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/china-to-lift-travel-restrictions-in-hubei-after-months-of-coronavirus-lockdown|website=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2020|date=24 March 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620173109/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/china-to-lift-travel-restrictions-in-hubei-after-months-of-coronavirus-lockdown|url-status=live}} while, on April 8, those for Wuhan were lifted as well.{{cite web|title=China to Lift Lockdown Over Virus Epicenter Wuhan on April 8|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/china-to-lift-lockdown-over-virus-epicenter-wuhan-on-april-8|website=Bloomberg|access-date=24 March 2020|date=24 March 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807190702/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/china-to-lift-lockdown-over-virus-epicenter-wuhan-on-april-8|url-status=live}}

On April 17, the Wuhan government revised the number of COVID-19 deaths, accounting for deaths that occurred at home that went previously unreported, as well as the subtraction of deaths that were previously double-counted{{cite news |title=China revises Wuhan's Covid-19 death toll with 50% rise, but denies cover-up |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200417-china-revises-wuhan-s-covid-19-death-toll-with-a-50-percent-rise |work=France 24 |date=17 April 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222230539/https://www.france24.com/en/20200417-china-revises-wuhan-s-covid-19-death-toll-with-a-50-percent-rise |url-status=live }} by different hospitals, resulting in a net increase of 1,290 deaths in the city.{{cite web |url=http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yjb/s7860/202004/9d15772389c64d478713e710a756b883.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200515105757/http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yjb/s7860/202004/9d15772389c64d478713e710a756b883.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-05-15 |script-title=zh:湖北省武汉市新冠肺炎疫情数据订正情况 |publisher=National Health Commission |date=2020-04-17 |access-date=2020-04-17 |language=zh-cn }}

Millions of people in Wuhan were tested for the virus in May, using the technique of batch testing, pooling samples to be tested together and retesting individually when necessary.{{cite news |last1=Wee |first1=Sui-Lee |last2=Wang |first2=Vivian |title=Here's How Wuhan Tested 6.5 Million for Coronavirus in Days |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/world/asia/coronavirus-wuhan-tests.html |access-date=28 May 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=26 May 2020 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818232205/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/world/asia/coronavirus-wuhan-tests.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author=Nectar Gan |title=Wuhan performed 6.5 million coronavirus tests in just 9 days, state media reports |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/asia/coronavirus-wuhan-testing-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=28 May 2020 |work=CNN |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819222917/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/asia/coronavirus-wuhan-testing-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}

The below progression chart is sourced from Hubei Provincial Health Commission daily reports:{{cite web |url=http://wjw.hubei.gov.cn/bmdt/ztzl/fkxxgzbdgrfyyq/xxfb/ |script-title=zh:信息发布--湖北省卫生健康委员会 |publisher=Hubei Provincial Health Commission |language=zh-cn |access-date=2020-11-15 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414034914/https://wjw.hubei.gov.cn/bmdt/ztzl/fkxxgzbdgrfyyq/xxfb/ |url-status=dead }}

{{center|{{Graph:Chart|width=700|height=240|type=line|xGrid=|yGrid=|xAxisTitle=Date|yAxisTitle=Count|xAxisAngle=-60|legend=Legend

|xType=date

|xAxisFormat=%b %e

|x=2019/12/31,2020/01/03,2020/01/05,2020/01/10,2020/01/11,2020/01/12,2020/01/13,2020/01/14,2020/01/15,2020/01/16,2020/01/17,2020/01/18,2020/01/19,2020/01/20,2020/01/21,2020/01/22,2020/01/23,2020/01/24,2020/01/25,2020/01/26,2020/01/27,2020/01/28,2020/01/29,2020/01/30,2020/01/31,2020/02/01,2020/02/02,2020/02/03,2020/02/04,2020/02/05,2020/02/06,2020/02/07,2020/02/08,2020/02/09,2020/02/10,2020/02/11,2020/02/12,2020/02/13,2020/02/14,2020/02/15,2020/02/16,2020/02/17,2020/02/18,2020/02/19,2020/02/20,2020/02/21,2020/02/22,2020/02/23,2020/02/24,2020/02/25,2020/02/26,2020/02/27,2020/02/28,2020/02/29,2020/03/01,2020/03/02,2020/03/03,2020/03/04,2020/03/05,2020/03/06,2020/03/07,2020/03/08,2020/03/09,2020/03/10,2020/03/11,2020/03/12,2020/03/13,2020/03/14,2020/03/15,2020/03/16,2020/03/17,2020/03/18,2020/03/19,2020/03/20,2020/03/21,2020/03/22,2020/03/23,2020/03/24,2020/03/26,2020/03/27,2020/03/28,2020/03/29,2020/03/30,2020/04/1,2020/04/2,2020/04/3,2020/04/4,2020/04/5,2020/04/6,2020/04/7,2020/04/8,2020/04/9,2020/04/10,2020/04/11,2020/04/12,2020/04/13,2020/04/14,2020/04/15,2020/04/16,2020/04/17,2020/04/18,2020/04/19,2020/04/20,2020/04/21,2020/04/22,2020/04/23,2020/04/24,2020/04/25,2020/04/26

|y1=0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,3,6,6,9,17,24,39,52,76,100,125,162,204,249,294,350,414,479,549,618,699,780,871,974,1068,1310,1426,1457,1596,1696,1789,1921,2029,2144,2250,2346,2495,2563,2615,2641,2682,2727,2761,2803,2834,2871,2902,2931,2959,2986,3007,3024,3046,3056,3062,3075,3085,3099,3111,3122,3130,3132,3139,3144,3153,3160,3163,3169,3174,3177,3182,3186,3187,3193,3199,3203,3207,3210,3212,3213,3213,3215,3216,3219,3219,3221,3221,3222,3222,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512,4512

|y2= , , , , , , , , , , ,9,12,12,23,24,23,57,57,57,69,127,228,277,290,338,444,478,576,711,756,841,1007,1154,1236,1298,1517,1437,1685,1876,1957,1773,1853,1957,2050,2018,2492,1845,1654,1585,1486,1403,1363,1314,1249,1226,1186,1137,1041,996,964,934,890,846,799,727,697,647,612,572,539,503,465,441,406,393,371,336,318,287,245,227,195,174,147,124,120,110,109,96,85,74,73,67,49,44,43,37,32,33,20,17,18,16,14,13,12,1,0,0,0,0

|y3=7,7,7,7,7,7,6,6,6,5,8,35,51,51,65,71,106,100,129,221,563,671,711,804,956,1118,1223,1567,1809,2328,3161,4188,4093,4269,5046,5124,5647,7593,8276,8439,8024,9117,9289,9128,8979,8400,8583,7776,7090,6840,6581,6270,6056,5858,5646,5407,5095,4747,4592,4395,4206,4101,3855,3613,3453,3251,2896,2551,2403,2243,2077,1809,1657,1521,1419,1343,1203,1050,914,754,659,515,427,350,311,280,239,194,171,149,70,54,51,50,38,37,24,18,15,9,6,6,6,3,1,1,0,0,0

|y4=20,33,52,31,27,27,27,27,22,33,126,164,236,250,250,304,365,501,829,1013,1877,2450,3346,4392,5444,7003,7917,8847,10107,11320,11802,14640,15746,16655,18743,18879, , , , , , , ,32225,32567,29944,29699,29643,29221,27916,26994,25245,23694,21805,20029,18457,16807,14977,14170,13159,11938,10835,10256,9300,8589,7860,6912,6213,5828,5222,4756,4362,3918,3496,3201,2879,2661,2404,2230,1897,1640,1344,1132,964,848,732,638,531,381,343,334,290,264,248,225,210,169,150,122,108,97,95,87,85,83,82,67,46,24,12,0

|y5= , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,18879,26609,27441,27955,29051,32993,31059,30763,30551,30383,30267,30151,30057,29950,29800,29762,29703,29634,29608,29592,29569,29554,29513,29488,29449,29416,29399,29392,29379,29375,29372,29367,29339,29318,29294,29283,29271

|y6=0,0,0,2,6,6,7,7,7,12,19,25,25,25,28,28,31,32,42,44,47,80,90,116,166,215,295,396,520,633,817,1115,1439,1795,2222,2639,3441,4131,4774,5623,6639,7862,9128,10337,11788,13557,15299,16738,18854,20912,23200,26403,28895,31187,33757,36167,38556,40479,41996,43468,45011,46433,47585,49056,50298,51553,52943,54278,55094,55987,56883,57678,58381,58942,59432,59879,60323,60810,61201,61731,62098,62565,62882,63153,63326,63471,63612,63762,63945,64014,64073,64142,64187,64236,64264,64281,64338,64363,64402,64435,63487,63494,63507,63511,63514,63519,63547,63569,63593,63604,63616

|y1Title=Deaths (cumulative)

|y2Title=Critically ill

|y3Title=Acutely ill

|y4Title=Mild

|y5Title=Mild and clinically diagnosed

|y6Title=Recovered (cumulative)

|colors=#7f7f7f,#d62728,#ff7f0e,#1f77b4,#17becf,#2ca02c

}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic}}

Hubei

Hubei

Category:Disasters in Hubei

Category:Health in Hubei