Shops, restaurants in Hubei re-open but customers scarce

Life after lockdown.

China's Hubei province was attempting to get back to normal on Friday (March 27).

Tight restrictions which started in late January have been lifted as the number of new virus cases fell.

But many are finding recovery harder than expected.

Shops and restaurants have opened but customers are scarce.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 34-YEAR-OLD LOCAL RESIDENT, WU YUFEN, SAYING:

"I don't dare to go to crowded places, and I have reduced my spending a little because it is now harder to do business than before. After all, we haven't had income for two months now."

Chinese authorities have recently announced measures to try to get consumers spending again.

They're handing out millions of yuan worth of discount vouchers.

Authorities in Hubei province have also pledged to help tide over small businesses.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SOYBEAN MILK STALL OWNER AT NOODLE RESTAURANT, TANG JIBIN, SAYING:

"My business is very very bad. No students, no people come. Only these guys. Business is bad nationwide. We can't do anything about it. So if there's no business we'll have to close our doors."

Hubei's provincial capital Wuhan, where the virus first appeared has been in total lockdown since January.

The city will see its travel restrictions lifted on April 8th.

But as countries around the world embark on their own lockdowns, fears of a deep global recession are mounting.

Many will be looking to China for economic clues, particularly how quickly businesses can get back on their feet.