Xi Jinping "Victory in the War Against the Epidemic Together with the People"

Important Directives Reissued on Wuhan Pneumonia
"Victory Through Firm Belief and Precise Policies"
Confirmed Cases and Death Toll Increasing Rapidly

Chinese President Xi Jinping is attending and delivering a speech at the 4th Plenary Session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 13.

As the novel coronavirus infection known as 'Wuhan pneumonia' rapidly spreads across China, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued important directives related to the situation on the 27th.

According to the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, President Xi stated in his important directive that "Party organizations at all levels and Party members and cadres must unite to lead the people and implement the policies of the Party Central Committee," adding, "We must rely on the people to win the war against the epidemic."

President Xi further emphasized, "Party committees at all levels must assess the situation through scientific research and accurately understand the epidemic situation," stressing the need for "unified leadership, command, and action."

On the 25th, the day of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), President Xi convened an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, declaring a 'war against the epidemic,' and two days later issued important directives underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Earlier on the 25th, President Xi had stated, "Epidemic prevention and control work must be regarded as the most important task at hand," and added, "With firm confidence, scientific prevention and control, and precise policies, we will surely win the war against the epidemic."

The Chinese leadership publicly demonstrated its determination to mobilize national resources by showing Premier Li Keqiang visiting hospitals in Wuhan on the same day to comfort patients and medical staff, actively attending to public sentiment.

Following President Xi's call for total mobilization and Premier Li's hospital visit in Wuhan, the highest levels of Chinese leadership are focusing on follow-up measures, but the situation continues to worsen.

The number of Wuhan pneumonia patients and deaths is increasing at an accelerating pace. On the 26th, for the first time since the outbreak, more than 20 deaths and over 800 confirmed cases were reported in a single day. Concerns are rising that the epidemic may become uncontrollable due to China's initial inadequate response.

The National Health Commission of China (NHC) announced that as of 12 noon on the 27th, 2,806 confirmed cases of Wuhan pneumonia had been reported across 30 provinces nationwide, with 81 deaths.

This represents an increase of 833 confirmed cases and 25 deaths compared to the previous day, indicating that the spread of Wuhan pneumonia is accelerating.

The total number of confirmed cases nationwide is expected to exceed 3,000 soon, and the regions with reported deaths are anticipated to expand beyond Wuhan and Hubei Province to other parts of China.

Within China, there are 461 severe cases of Wuhan pneumonia, 5,794 suspected cases, and 51 patients have been discharged after recovery.

The number of people who had close contact with patients surged by nearly 10,000 from the previous day to 32,799, of whom 30,453 are under medical observation.

In Beijing, a 9-month-old infant contracted Wuhan pneumonia, and among the newly infected patients, four out of five were confirmed to be in their 30s to 40s.