Mask-wearing soldiers have been deployed to locked-down Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus which is sweeping the world from China.
Footage showed troops unloading supplies from the back of a jet in the city of 11million people to help contain the virus which has so far killed 56 in China, with more than 2,000 cases worldwide.
China's health minister Ma Xiaowei said the country was entering a 'crucial stage' as 'it seems like the ability of the virus to spread is getting stronger.'
Wuhan is building two makeshift hospitals with around 1,000 beds each to handle the influx of patients. Supplies being rushed to the city include 14,000 hazmat suits, 110,000 pairs of gloves and masks and goggles.
Medical workers in the city have been among those infected and local media reported a doctor died on Saturday morning. The 62-year-old physician was hospitalised on January 18 and died a week later.
Videos have circulated online showing throngs of frantic people in masks lined up for examinations and there have been complaints that family members had been turned away at hospitals that were at capacity.
Wuhan today banned most vehicle use, including private cars, in downtown areas. The city will assign 6,000 taxis to neighbourhoods to help people get around if they need to.
President Xi Jinping on Saturday called the outbreak a grave situation and said the government was stepping up efforts to restrict travel and public gatherings.
The epidemic has revived memories of the SARS outbreak that originated in China and killed nearly 800 as it spread around the world in 2002 and 2003.
Its spread has come amid China's busiest travel period of the year, when millions crisscross the country or head abroad for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Beijing has decided to delay the start of classes after the Lunar New Year holiday ends, the official Beijing Daily reported on its website. That will extend to all schools in the capital from kindergartens to universities.
Hong Kong announced similar measures on Saturday and on Sunday two of that territory's biggest attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, announced they were closing for the time being.
China cut off trains, planes and other links to the city Jan' 22, and has steadily expanded the lockdown to 16 surrounding cities with a combined population of more than 50 million - greater than that of New York, London, Paris and Moscow combined.
The National Health Commission said it is bringing in medical teams to help handle the outbreak and the Chinese military dispatched 450 medical staff, some with experience in past outbreaks, including SARS and Ebola, Xinhua reported.
A Note on Coronavirus: Don't Panic
Third Coronavirus Infection Confirmed In California As Wuhan Mayor Expects “1000 Or So” New Cases
Third Coronavirus Infection Confirmed In California As Wuhan Mayor Expects “1000 Or So” New Cases
No comments:
Post a Comment