In statements cited by Chinese state television CCTV, the governor of Hubei province, Wang Xiaodong, reported difficulties experienced by medical personnel in the face of the rapid progression of the coronavirus. The official also called attention to the severity of the virus in the second city in the province to be under quarantine after Wuhan: Huanggang.The latest figures from the Chinese authorities refer to
that about 60 percent of the more than 770 cases of infection so far
confirmed took place in Hubei province, where 162 of the
170 deaths.
76 kilometers from Wuhan, Huanggang has 7.5 million inhabitants. There, 496 cases of coronavirus infection have already been confirmed, of which 12 are fatal.
Also quoted by CCTV, a health professional from Huanggang left a warning: medical supplies from the city’s main hospital will be enough for just one workday.
“We cannot receive patients without masks and protective suits. They are almost sold out and we have no way to buy them. Some of our doctors are using raincoats and disposable garbage bags to protect themselves ”, he noted.
Beijing, specifically the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, explains the shortage of masks with the expected increase in demand, with the Asian colossus is producing eight million units daily – and is responsible for the production of approximately half of the masks marketed worldwide.
A warning from Xi Jinping
A new meeting of the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization is scheduled for this Thursday, with a view to deciding whether the Chinese epidemic should be declared an international public health emergency. Exactly a week ago, the WHO considered such a declaration premature.
“The whole world must be on the alert. The whole world must act ”, WHO Director of Emergency Programs, Michael Ryan reiterated on Wednesday.
The summons was revealed on Twitter by the Organization’s director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
I have decided to reconvene the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) tomorrow to advise me on whether the current outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. pic.twitter.com/993YBQ6hol
– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 29, 2020
In addition to mainland China, cases of infection with the new coronavirus have already been confirmed in Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia, India, Philippines, Australia, United States, Canada, Germany, France – the first European country registering the disease and which this week confirmed a fifth case – Finland and the United Arab Emirates.
However, while medical personnel in Hubei report difficulties in accessing material, the central government issues a severe warning, through the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection: all those who do not follow the instructions signed by President Xi Jinping will be punished.
In particular, Beijing makes known that there will be consequences for situations of neglect or misappropriation of funds or medical supplies.
In the last 24 hours alone, according to the Chinese government, the coronavirus has caused 38 deaths, what constitutes the fastest progression since the beginning of the epidemic in December. The number of infected people approaches 7,700 in mainland China, a number that already exceeds the 5327 affected in 2002 and 2003 by the SARS epidemic – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Wuhan, the metropolis in the center of the country where the coronavirus emerged, has been partially isolated from the world for more than a week, with no non-essential vehicles circulating or people on the streets, like a ghost town, as well as almost all of Hubei province.
In addition to the cancellation of different international sporting events, including the Alpine skiing World Cup, the Chinese authorities have decided to postpone this year’s football season.
w / agencies
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