After 76 days, China ended the order of lockdown in Wuhan, the initial coronavirus epicenter in the world, as no new death was reported for the first time since January.

Iran PressAsia: As the ban expired on schedule at midnight (1600 GMT Tuesday), passengers -- many in hazmat suits -- expressed joy and relief as they filed into Wuhan's Wuchang station to catch the first overnight trains out of town, according to AFP.

Government estimates say as many as 55,000 people are expected to flow out Wednesday by train from the city, which was placed under an unprecedented quarantine lockdown on January 23.

The lockdown made Wuhan the first place in the world subjected to draconian containment steps now seen in many countries.

Hubei and the provincial capital Wuhan have suffered the majority of China's officially claimed tally of more than 81,000 overall infections and more than 3,300 deaths.

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