Wuhan locals fill the streets to celebrate the New Year as the rest of the world suffers under Covid lockdowns

12/31/2020 UK, World

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Crowded streets and wild New Year celebrations have erupted in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the Covid pandemic began. – while the rest of the world is locked up at home.

A year ago today, a Covid-19 outbreak was reported in the Hubei province city, which then spread around the world, killing more than 1.8 million people.

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Thousands of people crowd downtown Wuhan for the countdown to New Years Day Credit: REUTERS

The Western New Year's custom of hugging and kissing was observed at the Wuhan mass festival — The Western New Year’s custom of hugging and kissing was observed at the Wuhan mass festivalCredit: REUTERS

Many were carrying balloons to release when the clock struck 12 a.m. M. — Many carried balloons to release when the clock struck 12 a.m. M.Credit: REUTERS

People dance in a nightclub at a New Years party in WuhanCredit: EPA

Life has largely returned to normal in WuhanCredit: EPA

Celebrations have been held across China, including this parade in Zaozhuang, Shandong province.Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Surprisingly, Wuhan has not reported a new case of local transmission of the disease since May 10. – after lifting one of the strictest roadblocks in the world seven months ago.

In scenes unimaginable in many parts of the world, the inhabitants of the city have been filling the street tonight to toast the New Year.

Many gathered in front of the Wuhan city hall holding balloons.

Some wore masks, others lowered them or did not wear any.

Meanwhile, young people have flocked to nightclubs.

Some said they were being cautious, but apparently they weren’t worried about catching Covid.

‘NO CASES SINCE MAY’

These images narrate life in the previously little-known city.

About 11 million have been shut out from the rest of China in an unexpected shutdown overnight as of January 23.

Barricades were erected and planes, trains and buses were banned from entering the city.

Almost 3,900 of the 4,634 officially recorded deaths from Covid-19 in China occurred in the industrial city.

But after the lockdown was lifted, images have emerged showing hundreds of people huddled shoulder to shoulder at a music festival at a water park.

Wuhan residents, many in masks, dancing at an event — Wuhan locals, many in masks, dancing at an eventCredit: EPA

Huge crowds in Wuhan went wild when it opened in 2021 Credit: REUTERS

A police officer breaks through the barriers to handle the large crowds.Credit: REUTERS

Wuhan City Hall was a focal point for the celebrations — Wuhan city hall was a focal point for the celebrationsCredit: REUTERS

Police officers stand guard to control the large number of people who flocked to the city center.Credit: REUTERS

People walk along the banks of the Yangtze River on New Years Eve in Wuhan 'covid-free' — People walk along the banks of the Yangtze River on New Years Eve in Wuhan ‘covid-free’Credit: AFP or licensees

Large crowds were also seen in Wuhan filling the streets to celebrate Halloween.

And when the nightclubs reopened earlier this month, they were packed to the brim.

Scientists believe that Covid-19 first originated in bats before spreading to humans in Wuhan, possibly in one of the so-called wet markets in the Chinese city.

However, conspiracy theories about its origins persist, with governments suggesting it may have come from the laboratory of the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

People pose for photographs on the banks of the river as they converge in the city center. — People pose for pictures on the banks of the river as they converge in the city center.Credit: AFP or licensees

Meanwhile, young people have been going to nightclubs while the rest of the world is locked in. — Meanwhile, young people have been hitting nightclubs while the rest of the world is locked in.Credit: EPA

A young woman attends a concert with her mask pulled downCredit: EPA

In his New Year’s message, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the efforts of his people.

The communist ruler said: “China has written an epic in the fight against Covid-19, as the country put people and lives first and fought the epidemic with unity and perseverance.

“Greatness is forged in the ordinary. Heroes come from people. Every person is extraordinary!”

Paying tribute to the doctors, he added: “They gathered their drops of strength into tremendous power and built an iron wall to safeguard lives.”

Compare those scenes to Wuhan in January after a strict lockdown was imposed. Credit: Getty Images – Getty

You can't see everyone with a mask — You can’t see everyone with a maskCredit: EPA

This place was packed despite the pandemic Credit: EPA

This teen screams while watching a live bandCredit: EPA

The night spots have been open since the beginning of DecemberCredit: EPA

In other news, China has confirmed its first case of a mutant strain of Covid-19 that was recently detected in Britain.

The first patient in China with the new variant of the coronavirus is a 23-year-old woman who flew to Shanghai from Britain on December 14, the Chinese Center for Disease Control said.

He said the case “represents a great potential threat” to China’s efforts to curb and control the spread of the virus.

The new strain, which experts say spreads potentially faster than the original, has led to UK travel restrictions in more than 50 countries.

This includes China, where the coronavirus first appeared late last year.

But raising the drawbridge seems to have failed to stop what has been called “supercovid” reaching its shores.

In other parts of the world, people didn’t join the crowds for the countdown like in Wuhan.

Blue and gold fireworks soared into the sky over the Sydney Opera House like they do every New Year’s Eve, but the harbor below was a deserted ghost town, an eerie send-off to a year not to be missed.

No light show would illuminate Beijing from the top of the television tower.

The lions of London’s Trafalgar Square were entrenched, as were Moscow’s Red Square and Madrid’s Puerta del Sol.

In Rome, crowds did not gather at St. Peter’s, the Pope did not conduct Mass, and revelers did not make their annual dive into the Tiber.

Some cities planned, like Sydney, to launch fireworks over empty streets. Others, like London and Singapore, simply canceled their shows. Paris, Rome and Istanbul were under curfew.

The New Year’s Eve countdown ball was ready to fall on Broadway.

But instead of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers crammed shoulder to shoulder in Times Square, the audience would be a preselected group of nurses, doctors and other key workers, their families kept six feet apart in socially distanced pens.