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China records NO coronavirus deaths for first time since outbreak showing lockdowns ARE working

CHINA has reported zero new coronavirus deaths on Tuesday — the first time since it started publishing daily figures in January.

With the pandemic hitting hard across the world, officially the number of coronavirus cases in China is dwindling, ever since the Government imposed sweeping measures to keep the disease from spreading.

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 Officials believe the worst appears to be over in China, though there are concerns of another wave of infections as the Government attempts to reboot the economy
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Officials believe the worst appears to be over in China, though there are concerns of another wave of infections as the Government attempts to reboot the economyCredit: Reuters
 Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, will lift the lockdown on Wednesday allowing people to leave the city after more than two months
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Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, will lift the lockdown on Wednesday allowing people to leave the city after more than two monthsCredit: EPA

More than 1.3 million people around the world have been diagnosed with Covid-19, and there have been more than 74,744 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker.

Last month, authorities began easing restrictions on the residents of Wuhan, which has endured months of an extraordinary lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

The National Health Commission said it had 32 confirmed cases, down from 39 on Monday.

In total, the Chinese Government confirmed that more than 3,331 people have died and 81,740 have been confirmed as infected.

It comes as the Chinese Government came under scrutiny as to whether it was underreporting its figures.

Officials are now concerned that a second wave of infections could be brought in by foreign arrivals.

It has already shut its border to foreigners including those with visas or residence permits.

International flights have been reduced with both Chinese and foreign airlines only allowed to operate one international flight a week — and must not be more than 75 per cent full.

 People wear protective masks as they take photos of blossoms while enjoying the spring weather on Saturday at a park in Beijing
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People wear protective masks as they take photos of blossoms while enjoying the spring weather on Saturday at a park in BeijingCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Elsewhere people wearing protective suits were seen at a street market in Wuhan
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Elsewhere people wearing protective suits were seen at a street market in WuhanCredit: Reuters

On Wednesday, Wuhan is set to allow people to leave the city for the first time since the lockdown began in January.

Anyone who has a "green" code on a widely used smartphone health app will be allowed to leave the city, according to officials.

Some people in "epidemic-free" residential compounds have already been allowed to leave their homes for two hours.

But Wuhan officials revoked the "epidemic-free" status in 45 compounds because of the emergence of asymptomatic cases and for other unspecified reasons.

Asymptomatic refers to someone who is carrying the virus but experiencing no symptoms.

China began reporting asymptomatic cases at the beginning of April.

More than 1,033 asymptomatic patients are under medical observation.

Hitting back at claims China was too slow to raise the alarm, the country's state media have published what they describe as a detailed timeline of its response and information sharing.

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