Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
AsiaWire
This footage shows a mask-wearing man surrounded by hazmat-suit wearing paramedics after suddenly collapsed in Wuhan on the day the city ended its lockdown.
But officials highly sensitive to the image of China’s coronavirus response have now released a speedy statement, claiming the man was intoxicated and not gravely ill.
AsiaWire 
AsiaWire 
AsiaWire 
AsiaWire 
AsiaWire
The incident happened outside a Huawei mobile phone shop in the capital of Hubei Province in Central China as travel restrictions were lifted after 76 days yesterday (8th April).
Videos taken by witnesses show pedestrians and passing by the man, who appears to be lying motionless on the ground while wearing a surgical mask.
AsiaWire
Footage outside the Huawei shop shows uniformed police and hazmat-suit wearing paramedics checking on the collapsed victim.
It sparked fears that COVID-19 may not have really been eradicated in the city despite the local health commission reporting just two new cases in the past fortnight.
Health officials in Wuhan’s Jing’an District, where the incident happened, said the man was taken to Wuhan Central Hospital.
He was discovered to be drunk, and he collapsed as a result of intoxication, they said in the statement “debunking” concerns.
The patient has since been sent home, the statement said.
Wuhan’s 11 million residents were allowed to leave the city for the first time since 23rd January after their strict and lengthy lockdown was lifted yesterday.
According to reports, an estimated 100,000 people – mostly migrant workers – are expected to leave Wuhan in the 48 hours after lockdown measures end.
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