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‘Grave situation’: Xi says China can ‘win the battle’ against coronavirus, but spread is ‘accelerating’
25 Jan, 2020 14:38
China’s President Xi Jinping has encouraged his nation to win over the deadly epidemic which has claimed 41 lives and saw the travel of millions restricted. He warned that the situation is grave and worrisome – but not untenable.
“As long as we have steadfast confidence, work together, [rely on] scientific prevention and cures, and precise policies, we will definitely be able to win the battle,” President Xi told a politburo meeting, according to Xinhua.
However, the country is facing a “grave situation” as the new coronavirus is “accelerating its spread,” he has warned. The meeting, which took place against the backdrop of Chinese New Year festivities, focused on the measures necessary to fight the outbreak, state television reported on Saturday.
Thought to have originated from wild animals such as bats, the 2019-nCoV has killed 41 people in China so far and has infected more than 1,300 globally, most of them still in China.
In a positive development on Saturday, Chinese media said 38 patients have beaten the deadly virus. However, there is no specific medication or vaccine known so far, although countries around the world, including Russia, are hastily working to identify one.
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China coronavirus death toll rises to 54 with 300+ new cases confirmed in outbreak epicenter Hubei
25 Jan, 2020 23:29
Chinese authorities have confirmed 13 more deaths and 323 new cases of coronavirus across Hubei province, bringing the toll to over 1,700 infected and 54 deceased nationwide –and several dozen cases across 10 other states.
The number of those who had beaten the virus and were discharged from hospitals has in the meantime increased to at least 85 people.
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HK leader declares virus emergency, limits links with mainland China
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam declared a virus emergency yesterday, announcing measures to limit links with mainland China and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Flights and high-speed rail trips between Hong Kong and Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, will be halted. Schools that are currently on Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until Feb 17 and education authorities have asked universities to extend leave for students.
Hong Kong’s health authorities have confirmed five coronavirus cases, all linked to Wuhan, with a further 122 people being treated as suspected of having the disease.
Lam (above) said all official visits to the mainland and official Lunar New Year celebrations would be scrapped immediately. But she rejected calls for a temporary ban on all arrivals from the mainland and said it would be impractical to shut down all border crossings with the mainland.
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Foreigners pulling out of Wuhan as death toll skyrockets
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The Coronavirus - No Need To Panic
Fairly reasonable blog entry that refutes the argument this is the "most deadly virus ever" and presents some relevant numbers for comparison
That being said, this comment is fairly poignant. Given the current numbers nCoV is 40X more lethal than seasonal flu and only 20% less lethal than SARS. The numbers are not in yet and it might end up being very close to SARS in terms of lethality.
It's hard to estimate the lethality of a new disease. Here's one current statistic: 1438 confirmed cases, and 42 dead. So, 2.9% CFR (Case Fatality Rate)? Well, no, because only 39 confirmed cases have recovered. The rest are To Be Determined; at this point, the odds look 50/50 between death and recovery.
Here's another figure: of the first 41 confirmed cases, 15% died. So, 15% CFR? Probably not, because only the most serious cases would have gotten medical attention early in the outbreak.
So, somewhere between 3 and 15% Maybe, but viruses mutate, evolving to spread faster, but kill less (because a dead host doesn't spread the virus). But when the population density is high, a virus can kill quickly and still spread effectively.
Then, the fact that a 62-year old MD has died, after a week in hospital care, is very worrisome, because I assume that he'd get the best care available (unlike the average resident).
Lungs damaged by chronic air pollution might be more susceptible to pneumonia, I suppose.
Posted by: Lathechuck | Jan 25 2020 18:43 utc | 16
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