Doctors examine images of chest X-rays in a hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 19, 2020. (Xinhua)
Renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan confirmed people-to-people transmission of 2019-nCoV and infections among medical staff.
BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The latest on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): (all times local)
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03:28 am, Jan. 21
Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 19, 2020. (Xinhua)
Fifteen medical workers in central Chinese city of Wuhan have been diagnosed with pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), plus one suspected case, the municipal health commission reported early Tuesday morning.
One of the 16 patients is in critical condition while the rest are in stable condition. All of them are being treated in isolation, the commission said.
Medical staff are at the forefront in the prevention and control of the epidemic, the commission said, noting that local hospitals have stepped up efforts to control nosocomial infections, protect medical professionals and strengthened routine monitoring, with suspected cases receiving timely testing and treatment.
A high-level expert team of China's National Health Commission have confirmed people-to-people transmission of the 2019-nCoV and infections among medical staff.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, a total of 224 cases of pneumonia caused by 2019-nCoV had been reported in China. Of them, 217 had been confirmed, with 14 in Guangdong Province, five in Beijing and 198 in Wuhan where the first case was identified with a third death confirmed on Jan. 18.
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03:06 am, Jan. 21
Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses a teleconference on the prevention and control work for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that caused cases of pneumonia, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan Monday stressed scientific and orderly prevention and control of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has caused over 200 cases of pneumonia.
Making the remarks at a teleconference to make arrangement for the prevention and control work, Sun called for efforts to safeguard the people's health and maintain social order.
Pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus has been classified as Class B infectious disease and managed as Class A infectious disease, Sun said, adding that measures including epidemic monitoring and quarantine should be carried out in accordance with the law.
She demanded the city of Wuhan, where 198 cases have been reported as of 6 p.m. Monday, to take stricter measures to curb the virus spread in the region as well as its transmission to other places.
Sun urged stepping up efforts on scientific research on the virus, calling for an early date to find effective treatment procedures and medicines.
She also stressed openness and transparency of information as well as international communication and cooperation.
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02:54 am, Jan. 21
File photo of Zhong Nanshan. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
A high-level expert team of China's National Health Commission Monday confirmed people-to-people transmission of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and infections among medical staff.
Zhong Nanshan, a renowned respiratory expert and head of the team, said two cases in Guangdong Province were confirmed to be people-to-people transmission.
"The patients got infected, respectively, after their family members traveled to Wuhan and were infected by the virus," Zhong said during a media interview.
He also confirmed infections among medical staff.
The novel coronavirus infection was first reported in central China's Wuhan city, where 198 viral pneumonia cases have been confirmed.
Zhong said the geographical distribution of Wuhan's infection cases indicated a close relationship between the epidemic and a local seafood market.
Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and a member of the expert team, said the outbreak of the new coronavirus can be reversed if measures are taken now.
He said the constant emergence of new cases at present indicated that the epidemic is still at its early stage.
Zhong also predicted an increase of viral pneumonia cases during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. But he expressed confidence in curbing the virus spread, saying the SARS epidemic in 2003 will not be repeated.
"It took just two weeks to identify the novel coronavirus," Zhong said, noting that with well-rounded monitoring and quarantine systems, China will not suffer the social and economic impact as serious as 17 years ago.
He said early discovery, diagnosis, treatment and quarantine remain the most effective method to bring the outbreak under control.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, a total of 224 cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in China. Of them, 217 had been confirmed, with 198 in Wuhan, 14 in Guangdong Province, and five in Beijing.
Overseas, one case has been confirmed in Japan, two in Thailand, and one in the Republic of Korea.
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9:33 pm, Jan. 20
A view of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)
President Xi Jinping has ordered resolute efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that caused cases of pneumonia.
Instructing on the work related to the pneumonia situation, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed putting people's safety and health as the top priority.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, a total of 224 cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in China. Of them, 217 had been confirmed and 7 remained suspected.
Overseas, one case has been confirmed in Japan, two in Thailand, and one in the Republic of Korea.
Xi ordered heightened attention and all-out prevention and control efforts.
The prevention and control work is crucial at the moment due to the large passenger flows during the Spring Festival holiday, Xi said.
The Party committees and governments at all levels must put people's safety and health as the top priority and take effective measures to curb the spread of the virus, he said.
Xi ordered all-out efforts to treat patients, identify the causes of the virus infection and spread at an earlier date, strengthen monitoring and standardize treatment procedures.
Xi spoke of the need for the timely release of information and the deepening of international cooperation.
He also stressed the necessity of informing the public of relevant policies to safeguard social stability and ensure people have a peaceful and auspicious Chinese New Year festival.
Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also instructed related government departments and localities to improve response plans and spare no effort in prevention and control in this regard.
He also demanded better communication and coordination with the World Health Organization, related countries, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to join efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
A State Council joint task force on Monday held a teleconference to make an overall arrangement for prevention and control of the virus outbreak. The National Health Commission has set up a leading group to cope with the situation and give guidance in local response efforts. ■
