Difference between async await in python vs JavaScript

Question

Note: this is not about multi threading or multi processing. This question is regarding a single process and single thread.

Python async.io and JavaScript async both are single thread concepts.

In python, async.io, we can use async await keywords to create a function so that when this function is invoked multiple times (via gather) they get executed concurrently. The way it works is that when an await keyword is encountered, other tasks can execute. As explained here we apply the async await keywords to function that we would like to execute concurrently. However while these tasks are running concurrently, the main thread is blocked.

In JavaScript async has evolved from callbacks, promise, async/await. In the main program, when async is encountered, then the function is sent to the event loop (where the function execution begins) and the main thread can continue working. Any subsequent async function also gets added to the event loop. Inside the event loop when the function execution encountered an await then other function is given a chance to execute untill await in encountered.

To get this behaviour in python, that is - allow main thread to continue while executing child tasks the only option is multithreading/multiprocessing. Because once we start the child thread/process, and untill we call .join the main thread is not blocked.

Is there anyway by which the python's async.io can make the main thread non blocking? If not, then is this the fundamental difference between async concept in JavaScript and python?