For the first time since January, China has reported zero new COVID-19 related deaths. This comes in the wake of new outbreaks in Wuhan, the seat and centre of the novel coronavirus pandemic where whole residential blocks have been locked down, just a day before travel restrictions were about to be lifted.

According to The Guardian, the National Health Commission reported 32 new cases across China – all of these were arrivals from another country – and 30 asymptomatic cases were also reported.

According to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, more than 1.3 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and there have been 74,744 fatalities. While cases in mainland China have seen a drop since March, the nation – like many others – is fighting the second wave of outbreaks brought about by people flying in from outside.

While the rate of infections dropped, Chinese authorities designated around 7,000 residential blocks in Wuhan “epidemic free”. Wuhan has, of course, been under a severe lockdown for months in a bid to battle the spread of the virus. Travel restrictions were set to be lifted on Wednesday in the city but due to the new outbreaks, 45 of the previously designated “safe zones” have had their designations revoked following emergence of asymptomatic cases.