Liquor Store Visits Wuhan Hospital to Comfort Patients... Full Effort to Regain Public Trust

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Wuhan, where pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus has occurred, on the 27th to attend to public concerns. According to the Chinese government website, Premier Li visited a hospital in Wuhan that day to inspect countermeasures and comfort medical staff and patients. Wearing a mask and protective clothing, he toured the hospital and also communicated with patients through remote video and audio equipment.

Premier Li's visit to Wuhan is interpreted as an effort to inform both domestic and international audiences that the country's top leadership is taking the initiative in managing the emergency situation. The National Health Commission of China (NHC) also announced the "Community Work Notice for Preventing the Spread of Wuhan Pneumonia" at its regular briefing that day. It urged thorough management of outsiders and close contacts, strict maintenance of cleanliness and disinfection activities in public places within communities. In particular, it emphasized strengthening crackdowns on local agricultural and aquatic product markets and illegal wildlife trading centers, as well as strict control of pests such as rats, mosquitoes, and flies, which can transmit infectious diseases.

He Qinghua, Deputy Director of the Disease Control Department at the NHC, said, "We are currently receiving and addressing the basic resources and needs of each region regarding medical personnel issues," adding, "We are resolving related problems according to the circumstances of each region." When asked how the response to Wuhan pneumonia would be strengthened going forward, he replied, "We will focus on prevention through grassroots organizations and work to prevent further spread. Measures such as extending the Lunar New Year holiday to reduce people's external outings are also expected to be important in preventing the spread."