China lifts 76-day lockdown on virus-hit Wuhan

China on Wednesday lifted outbound travel restrictions on Wuhan, the city hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, ending a lockdown that sealed off around 10 million people from the rest of the world for 76 days.

The easing of travel restrictions came after new infections have been drastically reduced across China, marking a milestone in the country’s fight against the epidemic while giving confidence to a world grappling to contain the virus’s ferocious spread.

After barricades were removed at toll gates around Wuhan at Tuesday midnight, vehicles in long lines honked horns and rushed out, in an outpouring of celebratory sentiment at the long-awaited moment.

“I can’t wait to return to my hometown,” said Guo Lei, a businessman in Wuhan driving to his home in Shandong Province. “I and my relatives were all stranded here due to the epidemic.”

Shortly after midnight at Wuchang Railway Station, more than 400 passengers jumped on train K81 heading for Guangzhou in the south, the first train leaving Wuhan after the lockdown was lifted. More than 55,000 passengers are expected to leave Wuhan by train on Wednesday.

At 7:22 a.m., flight MU2527 took off from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, heading for the southern resort city of Sanya. It was the first flight leaving the airport after over two months of hiatus.

“It is my great honor to accompany you to the dreamy faraway place,” captain Mao Lin told passengers in an inflight announcement.

On Jan. 23, Wuhan declared unprecedented traffic restrictions, including suspending the city’s public transport and all outbound flights and trains. Similar restrictions were soon introduced in other areas in Hubei.