[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Two senior officials in Hubei Province, the origin of the novel coronavirus infection in China, have been dismissed. This is interpreted as a disciplinary action for failing to contain the virus spread in the early stages.
According to a report by China Central Television (CCTV) on the 11th, both Jiang Jin, Party Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Health Commission, and Liu Yingzi, Director, were removed from their posts. The vacancies will be filled by Wang Hesheng, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission of China. Last week, Deputy Director Wang was also appointed as a new Standing Committee member of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee, the highest decision-making body in Hubei Province.
The Chinese government has not separately disclosed the background for the dismissal of the two senior health officials in Hubei Province, but since Deputy Director Wang from the central authorities will take over the roles of the two senior health officials in Hubei, it can be interpreted as a disciplinary measure for failing to contain the virus spread early on. Chinese citizens are expressing anger on social media, accusing the Hubei provincial government of concealing information during the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which led to the failure to contain the virus spread in the early stages.
Chen Yixin, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the highest law enforcement agency of the Chinese Communist Party, also arrived in Hubei last week under orders from the central government to investigate the case of Dr. Li Wenliang, who died. The fact that the local public security bureau summoned Li Wenliang, who initially warned about the virus outbreak, has been revealed, intensifying Chinese citizens' distrust of the local government. Chen’s dispatch is also interpreted as an effort to quell public anger in China.
As the cumulative number of deaths from the novel coronavirus infection in China surpassed 1,000, fears over the virus’s lethality are growing. However, since confirmed cases and deaths are concentrated in Hubei Province, how to manage and treat local infections has emerged as the key to resolving the problem.
According to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) announcement on the 11th, the number of newly confirmed cases nationwide recorded in the previous day was 2,478. The fortunate point is that the number has been on a declining trend since peaking at 3,887 on the 4th.
The main contributor is the decrease in new confirmed cases in regions excluding Hubei Province. Excluding Hubei, the number of newly confirmed cases added on the 10th was only 381. Although it reached 890 just three days ago, it has been decreasing for seven consecutive days, dropping below 400 for the first time.
Even within Hubei Province, excluding the Wuhan area, which has the highest number of patients, the number of new confirmed cases has significantly decreased. On the 10th, Wuhan recorded 545 new cases, which is also a declining trend for five consecutive days after peaking at 1,221 on the 5th.
The fatality rate of the novel coronavirus in Hubei Province is 3.07%, while the nationwide fatality rate excluding Hubei is estimated at 0.38%.
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