Wuhan lifts outbound travel restrictions, ending months-long lockdown

Wuhan, the Chinese city hardest hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak, started lifting outbound travel restrictions from Wednesday after almost 11 weeks of lockdown. At Wuchang Expressway toll gate in southern Wuhan and Gongjialing toll gate in eastern Wuhan, cars honked horns and rushed out after barricades were removed at midnight.

Most of the trips are homebound ones to nearby cities in Hubei Province, according to the local traffic department. Other areas in Hubei lifted outbound transportation restrictions from March 25. On Jan. 23, Wuhan declared unprecedented traffic restrictions, including suspending the city's public transport and all outbound flights and trains, in an attempt to contain the epidemic. Similar restrictions were soon introduced in other areas in Hubei.