'What virus?': Packed crowds attend music festival in China's 'almost virus-free' Wuhan

 | Updated: May 02, 2021, 05:55 PM IST

As the world struggles to control the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Wuhan hosted its first open-air music festival on May 01. Similar “Strawberry Music Festival” events are being held in other cities across China, including Beijing, during the country's five-day national holiday. 

Let's take a look:

The largest outdoor music festival in China kicked off on Saturday (May 1), following delays and cancellations last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers said they had to restrict the number of festival goers this year.

The largest outdoor music festival in China kicked off on Saturday (May 1), following delays and cancellations last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers said they had to restrict the number of festival goers this year.

(Photograph:Reuters)

People in Wuhan lived through more than two months of stringent restrictions during the world’s first coronavirus-induced lockdown in 2020. The first-ever case of coronavirus, initially named "2019-nCoV" was identified here. 

People in Wuhan lived through more than two months of stringent restrictions during the world’s first coronavirus-induced lockdown in 2020. The first-ever case of coronavirus, initially named "2019-nCoV" was identified here. 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Since then, if official data is to be believed, the city has become almost completely virus-free. Hence, this two-day event, which is being held in Wuhan’s Garden Expo park. This music festival brings together Chinese singers and bands, and gives the people of Wuhan a chance to kick off their shoes, and dance into the night.

Since then, if official data is to be believed, the city has become almost completely virus-free. Hence, this two-day event, which is being held in Wuhan’s Garden Expo park.

This music festival brings together Chinese singers and bands, and gives the people of Wuhan a chance to kick off their shoes, and dance into the night.

(Photograph:Reuters)

Now, the question that arises here: Is a music festival like this a good way to lift the people's spirits or just an unnecessary risk?

Now, the question that arises here: Is a music festival like this a good way to lift the people's spirits or just an unnecessary risk?

Users of Twitter and other social media platforms have been split on whether or not this was a good idea.

(Photograph:Reuters)
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China reported 16 new mainland COVID-19 cases on April 30, down from 13 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Saturday (April 1). The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 90,671, while the death toll remains unchanged at 4,636, many of which were in Wuhan.

China reported 16 new mainland COVID-19 cases on April 30, down from 13 cases a day earlier, the country's national health authority said on Saturday (April 1). The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 90,671, while the death toll remains unchanged at 4,636, many of which were in Wuhan.

(Photograph:Reuters)