In China, the death toll due to infection caused by Novel Corona virus has risen to 213. Chinese authorities have so far confirmed 9,700 cases all over the country and more than 100 in 19 other countries.
Amid the mounting death toll and sky rocketing infections, Level 1 emergency response has been launched for 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese mainland. National capital Beijing is making special efforts and is reviving 17 year old hospital used to fight SARS.
Chinese health authorities have confirmed the number of coronavirus cases in mainland China had surpassed the tally of people infected by SARS during the 2002-03 epidemic. For now, the mask shortage has become a country-wide problem. China’s ministry of Industrial and Information technology said that due to the national holiday, current mask production is over eight million each day, comparing to 20 million in normal days. China is trying to purchase it from overseas.
Prevention and control efforts are in full swing and have been intensified, but the epidemic keeps spreading, with a rapid rising trend in some regions. China has seen 171 recoveries till now and is trying to engage the communities more vigorously to put up a united fight against the devil virus.
As Wuhan residents are enduring an isolated, frightening time a hotline has been opened in central China’s Hubei Province to help people maintain psychological health amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Medical workers, teachers, students and the general public can call the hotline number 4007027520 to request help for psychological issues related to the epidemic. An official WeChat account has also been set up to provide 24-hour service. China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce has said in a circular that China will release winter and spring vegetable reserves in major northern cities to ease supply shortages.
Food supply trucks and cargo ships have been given special permission for transportation. Ministry of Civil Affairs said, Social organizations that spread false information or engage in illegal activities during the new coronavirus outbreak will be severely punished.
Chinese experts are hopeful that an inflection point is likely to appear within the next one or two incubation periods which means roughly next 1 month. During the virus infection stage, the human body produces antibodies, which reduces the level and capability of the virus.
It also becomes less pathogenic and contagious. If a vaccine can be made quickly and with improved intervention measures, like early detection and quarantine, inflection points would appear even earlier. It is also essential to prevent the virus from mutating. Chances of such mutating are not much, but it may still cause some serious problems.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry today announced that it will send charter flights to bring home residents of Corona virus-hit Hubei province from abroad in view of practical difficulties they are facing. The move followed Chinese officials’ announcement that about five million people from Hubei province and capital Wuhan, the epicentre of Corona virus, have travelled out of the region before the province was officially closed on 23rd of January.
Earlier, World Health Organization has declared an international emergency over the deadly virus. It is a rarely used designation that could lead to improved international co-ordination in tackling the disease. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that their greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems.
He declared the disease a Public Health Emergency of international concern. Mr Tedros, who travelled to China this week and met Chinese President Xi Jinping, said all the concerned people must act together now to limit further spread.
Even though China and countries worldwide have launched extraordinary measures, the Declaration of an international emergency will undoubtedly sharpen various governments’ focus on protecting citizens.
The declaration of a global emergency triggers recommendations to all countries aimed at preventing or reducing the cross-border spread of disease while avoiding unnecessary interference with trade and travel. It covers temporary recommendations for national health authorities worldwide, which include stepping up their monitoring, preparedness and containment measures.
Although the WHO has no legal authority to sanction countries, it could ask governments to provide scientific justification for any travel or trade restrictions that they impose in the event of an international emergency.
Even though WHO has praised china’s efforts but declaration would definitely have increased the pressure little bit as china is racing against time to contain it.
From regular dissemination of information to carrying out disinfection work, from the high-quality treatment of patients to ensuring essential supplies in Wuhan and a hotline, china has mounted an extraordinary fight against the virus.
The US Government has issued fresh advice against travel to China. This is the highest of the four-level warning system. The State Department’s advice was followed after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global emergency.