On 23 January 2020, China imposed an unprecedented lockdown on Wuhan, a bustling city of 9 million residents, in a desperate bid to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
With public transportation halted, highways sealed, and residents confined to their homes, this belated but resolute measure marked the start of an extraordinary effort to control the epidemic at its epicentre.
Despite initial chaos and criticism over delayed action, the lockdown ultimately proved effective in curbing the virus's spread within the city, setting a dramatic precedent for global pandemic responses.
