10 key phrases in China's fight against COVID-19
Lockdown
On Jan 23, all inbound and outbound flights, as well as rail, bus and ferry services to and from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, were suspended – apart from those required for emergency purposes – isolating the city of 11 million people from the rest of the country. All public transportation in the city, including subways, buses and taxis, was also suspended to curb the spread of the virus.
It was an unprecedented move in China's modern history, and other cities in Hubei took similar measures, with the lockdown swiftly extended to the whole province.
According to a study published in the journal Science on March 31, the Wuhan lockdown, together with the national emergency response, reduced the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside Wuhan on the mainland by 96 percent within a month of being implemented.
The lockdown of Wuhan was not lifted until April 8, spanning 76 days.
