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China lifted tough restrictions on the province at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday after a months-long lockdown as the country reported no new domestic cases.
But there were another 47 imported infections from overseas, the National Health Commission said, as the number of cases brought into the country continued to swell.
In total, 474 imported infections have been diagnosed in China -- mostly Chinese nationals returning home according to the foreign ministry.
Four more people died, health officials said Wednesday, three in central Hubei province where the virus first emerged late last year.
China announced Tuesday that the lockdown would be lifted on more than 50 million people in Hubei, with residents now allowed to leave if healthy, with some airports and train stations opening.
The city of Wuhan -- the initial epicentre of the outbreak -- will allow residents to leave from April 8.
Hubei ordered the shutdown in January but had been gradually easing rules and permitting people to move about within the province and return to work over recent days.
Schools remain closed, however.
There have been more than 81,200 cases of COVID-19 in China and 3,281 deaths from the virus.
New cases have slowed dramatically over the last month.
But as nations globally struggle to contain the pandemic, surging numbers of imported cases in China are fuelling anxiety about a possible second wave of infections just as the country seems to be bringing its outbreak under control.
Many cities have brought in tough rules to quarantine arrivals, and all Beijing-bound international flights are being diverted to other urban centres where passengers are screened for the virus.
Asia virus latest: India to lockdown as China lifts some Hubei curbs
Singapore (AFP) March 24, 2020 -
Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:
- India to impose total lockdown -
India's 1.3 billion people will go under "total lockdown" for 21 days to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic from midnight Tuesday (1830 GMT).
"To save India, to save its every citizen, you, your family... every street, every neighbourhood is being put under lockdown," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an address to the world's second most-populous nation.
- China to lift Hubei travel curbs -
China's central Hubei province, where the deadly coronavirus first emerged late last year, is to lift travel curbs after two months under lockdown, officials said.
Healthy residents will be allowed to leave the province from midnight Tuesday, while Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the outbreak, will lift restrictions from April 8.
- Month-long Singapore shutdown -
Singapore will begin a series of shutdowns, in place until at least April 30.
From Thursday, bars and other entertainment venues such as night clubs, theatres and cinemas will be closed, while mass gatherings -- including conferences, exhibitions and sporting events -- must be postponed or cancelled.
Religious gatherings will be suspended and socialising outside of school and work must be limited to 10 people.
- Australia to deploy army, ban BBQs -
Australia's military will deploy to help set up virus checkpoints on routes into the remote Northern Territory, as the region goes into lockdown.
The territory -- home to a sizeable Aboriginal population, and some of Australia's most pristine outback --- was effectively closed to non-essential travel from Tuesday afternoon.
The country also banned backyard barbecues, games of football in the park and all foreign travel, while weddings will be limited to five people and funerals to 10, as almost all mass gatherings were outlawed.
- Philippines president gets extra powers -
The country's Congress gave President Rodrigo Duterte sweeping powers to fight the virus, including to take over private buildings and vehicles to house or transport the sick, health personnel, medical supplies and equipment.
Some 55 million people in the Philippines, which has reported 552 infections and 35 deaths, have been ordered to stay at home to halt the spread of the virus.
- Thai state of emergency; Laos, Timor cases -
A state of emergency will come into force in the kingdom from Thursday after a surge in cases, the prime minister said, allowing authorities to ban people from leaving their homes.
Neighbouring Laos, one of Southeast Asia's poorest nations with an under-developed healthcare system, confirmed its first cases in two people working in tourism.
East Timor, an impoverished, half-island nation next to the vast Indonesian archipelago, reported its first case.
- South Korea help for businesses -
South Korea doubled its business aid package to 100 trillion won ($80 billion), with President Moon Jae-in saying it would help "not only self-employed and small-to-medium size companies, but also major industries".
At one point South Korea was the country hardest-hit by the virus outside China, but widespread testing and quarantine efforts have seen new cases fall below 100 a day.
- Bangladesh garment sector crisis -
The impoverished country's garment sector is facing its worst crisis in decades after Western retailers such as H&M, Walmart and Tesco cancelled orders worth over $2 billion, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
- Macau imposes border controls -
The former Portuguese colony followed neighbouring Hong Kong in tightening border controls, with foreigners banned from entry, some residents barred and restrictions placed on others.
The gambling hub has been hit hard by the outbreak, with the casino industry suffering its worst monthly downturn on record in February.
- Pakistan officials suspended over virus selfie -
Pakistan has suspended six civil servants after they posed for a selfie with a coronavirus patient in a quarantine centre, an official said.
The selfie -- widely shared on social media -- pictured a group of men around the apparent patient, several of them smiling broadly and none wearing face masks.
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