DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Wednesday, January 29, 2020 | 3 NATION

Coronavirus Outbreak

Answers to 5 Visit by Li key questions regarding gives coronavirus By WANG KEJU [email protected]

Feng Zijian, deputy director of the morale boost Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, answered questions Premier encourages medical workers about the novel coronavirus epidem­ ic during an interview with China and reassures residents about supplies Central Television on Monday night. Below are excerpts from the inter­ By XU WEI ute in the pressing task of saving view: [email protected] the infected during a critical peri­ od for epidemic prevention and Why has the number of con- Premier has offered control. firmed cases of the novel corona- medical workers and residents bat­ After learning of an even starker virus increased dramatically? tling the novel coronavirus outbreak shortage of nurses in the city than The sharp increase of confirmed in Wuhan, province, a morale doctors, Li called on government cases has a lot to do with the ability of boost, pledging the nation’s all­out departments to take immediate the coronavirus to spread. Currently support to the epicenter of the out­ action to send more nurses with pro­ Premier Li Keqiang talks with doctors at a hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicenter of the it seems that human­to­human break. fessional experience to Wuhan. novel coronavirus outbreak, during an inspection tour on Monday. LIU ZHEN / transmission is getting stronger. Li, who heads a leading group of The government will make meet­ Another factor contributing to the the Communist Party of China Cen­ ing the demand for medical workers emergency facility being built in The central government’s analyzing the epidemic and for data rocketing number of infections lies tral Committee on dealing with the in the city a priority so that all doc­ response to the outbreak. heightened support to Hubei is on the outbreak to be made public in the timing of the epidemic out­ outbreak, visited front­line respond­ tors and nurses can work in shifts He asked the manager of the also evident in its decision to have in a more timely and accurate man­ break, which happened in early ers in Wuhan on Monday and com­ and take enough rest, he said. project about the difficulties being Vice­Premier , who is ner. December. As the Spring Festival mended them for working day and He told the workers to ensure they faced and materials that were still in charge of healthcare in the State More work must be done to travel rush kicked off less than a night to save the lives of patients protected themselves during the lacking, saying that meeting those Council, head a special work group respond to public concerns, win month later, people in areas with with pneumonia caused by the novel treatment process, which would requests would be the government’s to guide epidemic control and pre­ public trust and shore up confi­ severe infections traveled nation­ coronavirus. give their patients more hope and priority. vention in the province. dence with greater transparency, wide, which accelerated the spread The people of Wuhan thanked the the whole nation more confidence “You are in a race against time and Sun presided over a meeting on she said. of the disease. medical workers, and so did the peo­ and a greater sense of security. saving lives from a severe illness,” he her arrival in Wuhan on Monday, The work group has visited hos­ Wuhan, Hubei province, the epi­ ple of the whole country, he said at “Please make sure that you can told the workers. calling for all­out measures to con­ pitals in Wuhan to learn about the center of the outbreak and with a the Jinyintan hospital, which has call home every day just to say you He encouraged them to make trol the number of new infections epidemic control situation and the backlog of suspected cases, has seen the largest number of infected are safe, and to ease their worries,” every minute count and ensure the and reduce the mortality rate. treatment of patients. It has also especially rapid growth of confirmed patients and those in critical condi­ he said. completion of the project with high The novel coronavirus must be visited factories in Hubei to find cases due to the recent centralization tion in Wuhan. Li also sought to boost the morale quality and at an early date, so that it dealt with on a wartime footing, she ways to boost production of of diagnosis. He encouraged the workers to of workers on the construction site can become a refuge that can curb said. urgently needed masks and protec­ forge ahead and seize every min­ for Huoshenshan hospital, a special the spread of the outbreak. She urged quicker progress in tive suits. Why did the number of con- firmed cases surpass that of severe acute respiratory syn- drome in a shorter time? Outbreak International community The research shows that human­ : to­human transmission of the novel coronavirus is similar to SARS, Intensified supports China’s efforts which means that a patient can infect two to three people on average. By CAO DESHENG and ZHOU JIN assistance to China for as long as it However, the doubling time of the moves taken needs. novel coronavirus is shorter than The international community Speaking with Wang via tele­ that of SARS. Compared with nine From page 1 has voiced support for China’s phone on Sunday, Motegi said a days to double the number of infect­ efforts to prevent and control the friend in need is a friend indeed, ed cases in terms of SARS, it only Intensified measures have been novel coronavirus­related pneumo­ and was willing to work with takes about six or seven days for the taken by authorities at different lev­ nia that has claimed more than 100 China to cope with the threat of the novel coronavirus. els in China over the past few days to lives throughout the country, and disease and provide all­around sup­ cope with the spread of the disease. hailed the measures taken by the port and assistance. Are the changes in the novel cor- Wuhan has been cut off from the nation as active and transparent. He said he had faith that China onavirus the reason for the rest of China, with limited transport United Nations Secretary­Gener­ would win the battle against the increase in infected children? restriction measures taken in some A team of 136 medical staff drawn from 12 hospitals in boards al Antonio Guterres said on Mon­ contagion at an early date. The increase in child cases might other cities. Schools across the an airplane heading for Wuhan on Monday to help in the fight day the international body Also on Sunday, Sheikh Moham­ be related to the various chances of country will postpone the new against the novel coronavirus outbreak. TAO RAN / FOR CHINA DAILY appreciated China’s efforts, and he med bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown human exposure. People at different semester following an announce­ has full confidence in China’s capa­ prince of Abu Dhabi in the United ages are all susceptible to the new ment from the central government. bility to control the outbreak. Arab Emirates, said the UAE was respiratory pathogen. But the chance In Hubei, overburdened medical The commission has also Medical workers have identified Speaking to Zhang Jun, China’s ready to provide support to China of exposure may vary due to different institutions have received a total of arranged psychologists to provide people who tested positive for the permanent representative to the and collaborate with the interna­ ages, and so does the incidence. 4,130 medical workers dispatched consultations for some of the medi­ virus but have not displayed expect­ UN, at the UN headquarters in New tional community to fight the virus. It’s observed that the symptoms of by health authorities across China cal staff to help them deal with ed symptoms. Some patients, York, Guterres said that at this “We’re closely following the Chi­ the pneumonia disease seem to be from outside the province to assist stress, and local authorities in Hubei though, just show less serious symp­ important time, the UN stands in nese government’s efforts to con­ less severe in a child than an adult. with virus control and prevention, have provided assistance, including toms such as mild coughs, but they solidarity with the Chinese govern­ tain the spread of the coronavirus. No critical conditions have been Jiao Yahui, deputy chief for medical booking hotels near hospitals where can also be infectious, Li said. ment and people. We’re confident in their ability to reported in child cases. administration and supervision at medics work, Jiao said, adding that “It is important for the public to United States President Donald overcome this crisis. The UAE is the National Health Commission, their basic living and working con­ take precautionary measures, such Trump tweeted on Monday his ready to provide all support to Chi­ Will there be another outbreak said at a news conference in Beijing ditions will be taken good care of. as wearing masks when going out country was in close contact with na and cooperate with the interna­ period of the novel coronavirus in on Tuesday. Authorities in Wuhan are also and minimizing close contact with China and was offering whatever tional community to tackle this the future? When can the epi- Since the first batch of medical intensifying efforts to increase the others,” he said. “They should also help needed to fight the coronavi­ virus,” he tweeted. demic be basically controlled? staff was sent from Shanghai and number of beds to cope with the be careful not to contaminate their rus outbreak. Pope Francis praised China’s It is very difficult indeed to predict Guangdong province on Friday, 30 increasing number of patients, hands with the virus, and should French Foreign Minister Jean­ “great commitment” to contain the the epidemic trend at present. With medical teams have arrived in including building two new hospi­ wash hands frequently to prevent Yves Le Drian and Japanese For­ coronavirus outbreak on Sunday multiple measures having been taken, Wuhan and other cities in the prov­ tals, she said. The two facilities, chances of infection.” eign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and said he was praying for the we will effectively control the spread ince, Jiao said. expected to be completed within 10 , minister of the also said they appreciated the dead, the sick, and families of vic­ of the coronavirus. But we can’t have In addition, another 1,800 were days, will provide up to 2,300 total National Health Commission, said strong and active measures China tims, Reuters reported. high hopes it will be done in a week. expected to arrive in Wuhan by additional beds, she said. at a news conference in Beijing over has taken to contain the contagious Iranian Foreign Minister We must continue to strengthen Tuesday night, bringing the total Another 14 hospitals in the city the weekend that a recent study has disease. Mohammad Javad Zarif also prevention and control measures number of healthcare workers to will reserve an additional 6,000 revealed that the virus seems to be In a telephone conversation with praised China’s response to the out­ and step up diagnosis and treatment nearly 6,000, she added. beds for patients with the virus, becoming more infectious and is State Councilor and Foreign Minis­ break in a tweet in Chinese. efforts in areas of severe infections, “The medical workers are spe­ which will result in more than spreading at a faster rate, and ter on Monday, Le Drian Zarif said the timely and decisive as well as enhance the detection of cialized in different areas, includ­ 10,000 beds available in the city for severe challenges face virus control said France highly appreciated the measures the Chinese government infected cases in other places. We will ing respiratory and infectious such patients, Jiao said. and prevention efforts. Chinese government taking active had taken to contain the disease and also trace people with close contact diseases, and many of them are Li Xingwang, chief infectious “We will make all out efforts on and powerful measures to deal with the united action of the Chinese peo­ with patients and put them in medi­ very experienced in similar emer­ diseases expert at Beijing Ditan disease control and prevention,” the outbreak and staying commit­ ple had boosted the confidence that cal observation. The epidemic will be gency relief operations and have Hospital, said asymptomatic cases Ma said. “With our experience in ted to curbing the spread of the con­ China would win the battle against brought under control as long as all taken part in fighting the SARS of the virus have been recently the prevention and control of tagion. the epidemic. Iran stood firmly with the measures can be put in place. (severe acute respiratory syn­ found in many places around the major public health incidents and He paid tribute to China for its the Chinese people, he added. drome) outbreak in 2003 or helped country, which have increased diffi­ relying on medical workers and the determination and courage to fight What’s the point of extending the controlling the Ebola outbreak in culties in preventing and control­ public, we are confident of winning the epidemic, and said France was Contact the writers at Spring Festival holiday? Is there Africa,” Jiao said. ling the virus. the battle.” willing to provide all necessary [email protected] a need to further extend it? It’s a very important strategy to control the spread of respiratory from Wednesday. Recreational, Other departments that have infectious disease through human­ Major HK public services halted under epidemic sports and cultural programs held at announced suspension of public ser­ to­human transmission by reducing these venues are canceled until fur­ vices include the Education Bureau, the flow of people and personal con­ ther notice, the department Transport Department, Lands tact, as well as increasing interper­ By HE SHUSI in Hong Kong to work on Tuesday, will take Thurs­ Urgent hearings will be dealt with announced Tuesday. Department, Legal Aid Department, sonal distance. Chinese authorities [email protected] day and Friday off. in accordance with the established The Hong Kong Wetland Park and Registration and Electoral Office, extended the Lunar New Year holi­ Public transportation and public mechanism, the judiciary said in a visitor and education centers of and the Land Registry. day as a key measure to control the Major government departments hospitals in Hong Kong will main­ statement on Tuesday. country parks and geoparks in Hong Also on Tuesday, the SAR govern­ spread of the novel coronavirus. and the judiciary in Hong Kong tain normal services. The city’s The Inland Revenue Department Kong will be closed, while school ment said most government employ­ The longer the holidays are, the announced on Tuesday the suspen­ stocks, futures and derivatives mar­ also suspended all services through and public programs in these sites ees are being told to work from home better control of the epidemic will be. sion of non­emergency public servi­ kets will also trade as normal on Sunday. During the suspension, will also be canceled until further through Sunday in a bid to reduce But we also have to balance things ces — including judicial, tax, sports­ Wednesday, the first workday after deadlines for tax payments, lodg­ notice, according to the Agriculture, the risk of the novel coronavirus because people still have to live and facilities and postal services — the Lunar New Year holiday in the ment of objections and holdover Fisheries and Conservation Depart­ spreading in the community. The work, and emergency materials have through at least Sunday in a bid to special administrative region. applications, submission of tax ment. decision does not affect employees to be produced and transported. curb the spread of the novel corona­ The judiciary said it will adjourn returns and information will be Hongkong Post also suspended who are responsible for emergency On the one hand, we have to take virus epidemic. all hearings of the courts and the tri­ automatically extended until Mon­ post office counter service, mail and necessary public service. measures to block the spread of the In the meantime, government bunals originally scheduled from day or until further notice. delivery service and mail collection The Macao SAR government, on epidemic. On the other hand, we employees are being asked to work Wednesday through Sunday. Court All public sports and cultural facil­ from posting boxes. Delivery service the same day, announced that its civ­ have to minimize the impact on peo­ from home through Sunday. In and tribunal registries and offices ities run by the Leisure and Cultural for inbound Speedpost items will be il servants will not have to work on ple’s lives, as well as social and eco­ Macao, civil servants, who returned also will be closed during this period. Services Department will be closed maintained. Thursday and Friday. nomic impacts.