The year 2020, one unlike any other, is finally behind us. While the new year celebrations were low-key around the world with many countries in strict lockdowns, Wuhan, the epicenter of COVID-19, welcomed the beginning of another year with wild celebrations.
It was a feast - there were balloons and revelry in Central China¡¯s Hubei province where the virus began its trail of destruction 12 long months ago.?
Most countries across the globe had to be content with muted celebrations as a precaution to keep a check on the spread of virus which is refusing to relent.?
In Wuhan, it looked like celebrations as usual.?As per tradition, hundreds gathered in front of the old Hankow Customs House building, one of the city's more popular New Year's Eve spots. When the building's old clock reached midnight many people released balloons into the air, cheered and called out "happy new year."?
Remarkably, Wuhan has not reported a new locally transmitted case of the disease since May 10?¡ª?after lifting one of the strictest lockdowns in the world seven months ago.?
In scenes unimaginable in many places around the world, the city's residents began thronging the streets to toast the New Year.
In what is sure to spark envy in many countries still subject to strict lockdown measures, party-goers were filmed crowding into a live music event in the former-Covid epicenter.
Many opted to go mask-free inside the venue where revellers danced just inches from each other.
But for most of the world's seven billion people, a grinding year ended with typically muted festivities, with fireworks, pyre burnings and live performances watched from the comfort of homes or cancelled altogether.??
Almost 3,900 of China's officially 4,634 recorded COVID-19 deaths occurred in the industrial city.