China has today marked a major milestone in its battle
against the coronavirus pandemic as it recorded zero domestic infections for
the first time since the outbreak emerged.
against the coronavirus pandemic as it recorded zero domestic infections for
the first time since the outbreak emerged.
The stark reversal comes as nations across the world have
shut down in a desperate effort to contain the pandemic, with more people now
infected and having died abroad than in China.
shut down in a desperate effort to contain the pandemic, with more people now
infected and having died abroad than in China.
There
were no new cases in Wuhan — the central city where the virus first emerged in
December — for the first time since authorities started publishing figures in
January, according to the National Health Commission.
were no new cases in Wuhan — the central city where the virus first emerged in
December — for the first time since authorities started publishing figures in
January, according to the National Health Commission.
Wuhan
and its 11 million people were placed under strict quarantine on January 23,
with more than 40 million other people in the rest of Hubei province entering
lockdown in the following days.
and its 11 million people were placed under strict quarantine on January 23,
with more than 40 million other people in the rest of Hubei province entering
lockdown in the following days.
The
rest of China also enacted tough measures to limit public gatherings.
rest of China also enacted tough measures to limit public gatherings.
There
were eight more deaths in China — all in Hubei — raising the nationwide total
to 3,245, according to the commission.
were eight more deaths in China — all in Hubei — raising the nationwide total
to 3,245, according to the commission.
There
have been nearly 81,000 infections in China but only 7,263 people remain sick
with the COVID-19 disease.
have been nearly 81,000 infections in China but only 7,263 people remain sick
with the COVID-19 disease.
The
global number has shot past 200,000, with more than 8,700 deaths.
global number has shot past 200,000, with more than 8,700 deaths.
On
March 10, President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan for the first time since the outbreak began and declared that the spread of the disease was “basically
curbed”.
March 10, President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan for the first time since the outbreak began and declared that the spread of the disease was “basically
curbed”.
On the
same day, Hubei officials allowed people to travel within the province for the
first time since January, excluding Wuhan.
same day, Hubei officials allowed people to travel within the province for the
first time since January, excluding Wuhan.
On
Wednesday, Hubei authorities announced they were partially opening its borders
to allow healthy people from low-risk areas to leave the province if they have
jobs or residences elsewhere. This also excludes Wuhan.
Wednesday, Hubei authorities announced they were partially opening its borders
to allow healthy people from low-risk areas to leave the province if they have
jobs or residences elsewhere. This also excludes Wuhan.
Life
has slowly started to return to normal in the rest of the country, with people
back at work, factories up and running, and schools in some regions resuming or
preparing to go back to class.
has slowly started to return to normal in the rest of the country, with people
back at work, factories up and running, and schools in some regions resuming or
preparing to go back to class.
But
there is concern about a second wave of infections due to an influx of cases
from abroad, with an average of 20,000 people flying into China every day.
there is concern about a second wave of infections due to an influx of cases
from abroad, with an average of 20,000 people flying into China every day.
Beijing
and other regions are now requiring most international arrivals to go into
14-day quarantine in designated hotels.
and other regions are now requiring most international arrivals to go into
14-day quarantine in designated hotels.
The
National Health Commission said there were 34 more cases brought in from abroad,
the biggest daily increase in two weeks, with 189 in total now.
National Health Commission said there were 34 more cases brought in from abroad,
the biggest daily increase in two weeks, with 189 in total now.
“We
should never allow the hard-won and continuous positive trend to be
reversed,” Xi said at a Communist Party leadership meeting on Wednesday.
should never allow the hard-won and continuous positive trend to be
reversed,” Xi said at a Communist Party leadership meeting on Wednesday.
The
disease is believed to have jumped from an animal to humans at a market that
illegally sold wild game in Wuhan late last year.
disease is believed to have jumped from an animal to humans at a market that
illegally sold wild game in Wuhan late last year.
There
have also been questions about China’s official figures, as authorities changed
its methodology to count infections, and the government has endured rare public
criticism of its handling of the health emergency.
have also been questions about China’s official figures, as authorities changed
its methodology to count infections, and the government has endured rare public
criticism of its handling of the health emergency.
Local
officials initially attempted to cover up the outbreak, with police silencing
doctors who had raised the alarm about the emergence of the new virus as early
as of December.
officials initially attempted to cover up the outbreak, with police silencing
doctors who had raised the alarm about the emergence of the new virus as early
as of December.
One of
the whistleblowers, Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, died from the virus
himself in February, sparking an outpouring of grief and anger on social media.
the whistleblowers, Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, died from the virus
himself in February, sparking an outpouring of grief and anger on social media.
The
first case emerged in Wuhan on December 1, according to Chinese researchers,
but it was not until January 9 the country confirmed a “new type of
coronavirus”.
first case emerged in Wuhan on December 1, according to Chinese researchers,
but it was not until January 9 the country confirmed a “new type of
coronavirus”.
Between
January 5 and 17, China reported no new cases of the virus, even as Japan and
Thailand declared first infections a period that coincided with annual
political meetings in Wuhan and Hubei province.
January 5 and 17, China reported no new cases of the virus, even as Japan and
Thailand declared first infections a period that coincided with annual
political meetings in Wuhan and Hubei province.
