The lockdown in the Chinese city of Wuhan - where the coronavirus pandemic started - has been lifted.
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People with a "green" code on their smartphone health app are now allowed to leave, for the first time since January 23.
It comes after China reported no deaths on Tuesday, the first time since it began publishing figures. Stringent lockdowns remain in place across other areas of China.
Meanwhile Japan's PM Shinzo Abe only yesterday declared a state of emergency. Tokyo and six other prefectures - accounting for almost half of Japan's population - will be targeted for "about one month".
It is not a lockdown, authorities stressed and now medical experts are wondering if the move on Tuesday has come just in time to avoid calamity, or is too little, too late.
Half a world away from the epicentre of the pandemic, New Zealand is halfway through its month-long lockdown.
Health authorities have praised the efforts of Kiwis in adhering to the rules at alert level-4, and have signalled the lockdown may be working. But there is no intention of lifting restrictions early.
France is likely to find its month-long lockdown will be extended when from April 15,
Since March 17 the French have been prevented from leaving their home unless they were key workers or going out to buy food or medicine. People were also allowed to exercise individually as long as it was for less than an hour and within one kilometre of their home. No more.
Paris has banned all outdoor exercise between 10am and 7pm. And don't think the new rules won't be policed - 480,000 fines since a nationwide lockdown began three weeks ago.
The UK has pushed back a review of its social distancing measures until after Easter.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's condition is stable and he remains in intensive care for close monitoring.
Meanwhile another cruise ship, this time from Antarctica and with many Australians on board, has reported some alarming figures.
Nearly 60 per cent of the 217 people aboard have tested positive for the coronavirus.
"There are currently no fevers on board and all are asymptomatic," said Aurora Expeditions, the Australian operator of the Greg Mortimer ship.
Australian passengers, and possibly those from New Zealand, are likely to fly home on Thursday or Friday and be quarantined in Melbourne.
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