When the COVID-19 outbreak began in China, goodwill offers of support and medical supplies from foreign countries, international organizations and people around the world poured in to help the country combat the epidemic.

Now China is returning the favor.

Diamond Princess Cruise 

Existing Confirmed Cases Globally

29,945

20,561

Asia

Europe

364

1,375

North America

113

Oceania 

111

Africa

132

South America

(as of Mar. 12)

Table 2 Epidemic Curve of New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in China 

(Jan. 22 - Mar. 12)

Table 3 Imported COVID-19 Cases in China

(as of Mar. 12)

Shanghai

Shandong

Zhejiang

Guangdong

Ningxia

Henan

Temporary Hospitals

in Wuhan

(Feb.5-Mar.10)

35

days

0-14

14-0

13,000

beds

12,000+

patients

0

zero death

zero infection

zero relapse

Xi Vows Victory over COVID-19 in Wuhan

Xinhua

President Xi Jinping on March 10 inspected the COVID-19 outbreak epicenter in central China, pledging a continuous fight toward victory as prevention and control efforts have "turned the tide".

The inspection to Wuhan, Hubei Province, took the president to a hospital treating severely ill COVID-19 patients and a residential community. He visited patients, medics, community residents and workers, police officers, military personnel, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the novel coronavirus.

Xi called for firm, solid and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan. He said thanks to hard work, the situation in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes with important progress, but the task of prevention and control remains arduous.

Praising the people of Wuhan, Xi said the positive trend in epidemic control could not have been achieved without their sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and efforts.

With their concrete actions, the people of Wuhan have demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese people's love for their family and nation, which enables them to stick together through thick and thin, he said.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi sent condolences to people who died in the epidemic and people who sacrificed their lives fighting on the front line.

In Huoshenshan Hospital, the first leg of his inspection, Xi lauded medical workers as "the most beautiful angels" and "messengers of light and hope." The frontline medical workers have taken on the most arduous missions, Xi said, calling them "the most admirable people in the new era" who deserve the highest commendations.

Xi talked with patients in the hospital through a video link, and expressed his wishes for their quick recovery.

"All prevention and control measures taken by the CPC Central Committee against the virus are to prevent more people from being infected and save more patients' lives," Xi said.

Meeting medical representatives in the hospital, Xi said the spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan, and attributed the achievement to efforts of the whole Party, the whole country and the whole society. "But you are the biggest heroes," Xi told the medics.

Leaving Huoshenshan Hospital, Xi came to a residential community. People quarantined at home waved to Xi from their balconies and windows. Xi waved back and expressed his regards.

Xi stressed the importance of communities in epidemic prevention and control, requiring grassroots Party organizations and Party members to play their key roles in containing the virus spread in communities. He emphasized closely relying on the people to win the people's war against the epidemic.

After the field inspection, Xi chaired a teleconference and delivered an important speech. Xi said since the outbreak, the CPC Central Committee has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures to resolutely curb the spread of the virus in Wuhan and Hubei.

"Initial success has been achieved in stabilizing the situation and turning the tide," he said.

Xi said medical treatment should be given the top priority to improve the recovery rate and reduce mortality to the greatest extent under the principle of scientific and targeted treatment. 

Noting that the fight against the virus is at a critical moment, Xi stressed further preventing the spread and exportation of cases.

The epidemic will not affect the fundamentals of Hubei's steady and long-term sound economic development, Xi said, urging implementation of policies and measures to support enterprises, stabilize employment and create more jobs.

Calling the response to the virus a "test" for China's system and capacity for governance, which has brought both experience and lessons, Xi demanded efforts to fix the shortcomings and weak links as soon as possible.

Xi urged Party organizations, members and officials to shoulder responsibilities, adopt sound measures and improve their capabilities in the test. 

Wuhan in 24 hours

Did You Know: 

Medical workers transport a COVID-19 patient to the CT room at a hospital affiliated to Tongji University in Wuhan on March 6. Medical workers have been racing against time on the frontline of the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The temporary hospital converted from Wuchang Hongshan Stadium shut down on March 10, marking the closure of all the temporary hospitals in Wuhan. (Photo: China News Service)

Medical worker waves farewell to a recovered patient in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, on March 10. The patient diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been cured and discharged from hospital, bringing the number of COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals to zero in Changchun. (Photo: Xinhua)

An exhausted nurse fighting COVID-19 on the frontline takes a rest and inhales oxygen in Shishou, Hubei Province, on the early morning of February 19.  (Photo: Life Times)

Medical workers from Yunnan Province at a ceremony marking the closing of a temporary treatment center in Wuhan’s Jianghan District, March 9. Built on February 5 with a total of 1,564 beds, the medical facility had received a total of 1,848 patients, seeing 521 patients being transferred to other hospitals and 1,327 patients discharged. 

A worker arranges masks at a medical equipment company in Suining, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on March 6. (Photo by Liu Changsong/Xinhua)

— Worldwide Situation —

Second emergency package decided on outbreak

Japan's government has decided on its second emergency package to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. The government taskforce on the new coronavirus endorsed the 4.2 billion-dollar package on March 10.

It includes creation of a new subsidy program for parents who cannot go to work because of school closures, and bans resale of surgical masks which are in short supply. It also calls for interest-free, collateral-free funding to struggling self-employed workers and small and mid-sized businesses on a scale of US$15 billion.

Japan:

— WORLDWIDE SITUATION —

Masks limited to 2 per person to overcome shortage

The South Korean government will limit the number of masks individuals can buy to two per week, stop mask exports and allow mask production on weekends. These are some of the long-awaited measures to bring masks back to store shelves as the public continues to worry about the spread of the coronavirus.

The government is even deploying the military in its campaign to stabilize mask supplies. According to the government plan, individuals will only be permitted to purchase two government-supplied masks per week. Furthermore, they will only be allowed to make purchases on dates that correspond to their year of birth.

South Korea:

— WORLDWIDE SITUATION —

All of Italy now in lockdown as coronavirus cases rise

Italy has been put under a dramatic total lockdown, as the coronavirus spreads in the country. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that he is extending restrictions already in place in the north.

"All the measure of the red zones are now extended to all of the national territory," Conte said at a press conference on March 10 evening as he also announced a ban on all public events. The Prime Minister said the move was taken in order to protect the population, and especially the most fragile individuals. His announcement came at the end of a chaotic day that saw prison riots across the country.

Italy:

— WORLDWIDE SITUATION —

Iran presents national strategy to fight coronavirus

Iran’s Health Ministry announced on March 5 that the country will embark on a national mobilization plan to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki said that 300,000 teams will be mobilized in health centers, schools and Basij bases across the country. Some 26,000 health centers will be set up across Iranian cities and villages.

Iran:

— World Voices —

Italian Foreign Minister: Learning from China's successful experience in the battle against the virus

In the phone call on March 10, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said the two nations' friendship would see new progress as they work to tackle the fast-spreading virus.

Mr Di Maio briefed on Italy's latest development on the epidemic prevention and control work, and thanked China for its support for Italy. Pointing out the severe situation in Italy at present, Mr Di Maio said the Italian government is paying close attention to and learning from China's successful experience in the battle against the virus, taking strong measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

— World Voices —

WHO: China has offered 'window of opportunity' in global fight against COVID-19 

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the globe, the head of the World Health Organization has said that China's control measures could be adopted by other countries as well.

"We were saying to the rest of the world, there is a window of opportunity, China is taking massive actions. So use this window of opportunity, and if any case comes to your country, contain it as soon as possible," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

— World Voices —

Fukuda: China can be a 'mentor' in fighting epidemic

China has won high praise from Keiji Fukuda, former special adviser on pandemic influenza to the director-general of the World Health Organization, for its "tremendous" and "remarkable" experience in containing the novel coronavirus outbreak.

China could be a "mentor" for other countries battling the disease that has now spread to more than 100 countries and regions, the US epidemiologist said.

Go Where There Is Epidemic, Fight It Till It Perishes

#疫情就是命令，防控就是责任#

All-out efforts are needed to carry out epidemic monitoring, screening, and early warning, and to curb the spread of the virus racing against the clock. Enormous efforts must be exerted to implement the most effective measures, mobilize the people to the largest extent, and build a solid line of defense against the epidemic.

The Central Guiding Team

#中央指导组#

 (1) guide and supervise Hubei province and Wuhan city to implement the arrangements made by the central leadership; 

(2) guide Hubei and Wuhan in the battle against the epidemic and increase prevention and control forces; and

 (3) investigate negative, wrong and irresponsible actions, supervise local rectification, and deal with those problems in accordance with laws and discipline.

Region-Specific and Multi-Level Approaches to Epidemic Prevention and Control

#分区分级防控工作#

Region-specific and multi-level approaches are meant to suit the specific features and epidemic situations of different regions. In line with the guidelines, differentiated policies will be adopted for epidemic control and restoration of economic and social order in different places. 

Temporary Treatment Centers

#方舱医院#

Temporary treatment center, better known as "mobile cabin hospital" in China, is a modern mobile medical system that takes medical cabin as the carrier and integrates the functions of medical treatment and clinical technology. Composed of medical treatment units, ward units and technical support units, temporary treatment centers are mainly used in major disaster rescue, emergency support, itinerant medical services, and other tasks.  

Human-to-Human Transmission

#人传人#

Zhong Nanshan pointed out that to effectively stop human-to-human transmission of the virus, there must be separation of healthy people from the infected, and separation of COVID-19 patients from flu patients.

Prompt Release of Accurate Epidemic Information

#及时准确、公开透明发布疫情信息#

Following the arrangements and requirements by the central leadership, the State Council Information Office has since January 26 held press conferences at irregular intervals on the joint efforts in virus prevention and control. On February 15, it for the first time moved its pressroom to Wuhan, the forefront of epidemic prevention and control. Starting from January 27, the National Health Commission (NHC) has held press conferences every morning. Starting from February 3, the inter-agency task force under the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council has held press conferences daily. Hubei province and other regions severely hit by the epidemic also hold press conferences every day.

By Rafael Henrique Zerbetto

I was in Brazil after the coronavirus outbreak hit China

Spring Festival is China’s most important holiday during which the country embraces the largest human migration in the world, and I usually take this opportunity to visit my family in Brazil. Already in mid-December, before the onset of coronavirus in China, I bought my ticket to Brazil. Then I could not imagine what would be happening in China during my trip.

On January 21, I worked and then attended a spring banquet before going to the airport. It was early morning when I boarded to Madrid. Many Chinese were voluntarily using masks at the airport and on the airplane. During the days before my trip, I followed news about the epidemic in Wuhan and the growing fear that it could become global. The first two cases of coronavirus in Beijing were confirmed on January 20, and that made me afraid of having problems at any airport on the way, but there was no special procedure for passengers from China. I spent the day in Madrid with Spanish friends before boarding to Brazil. 

Neither in Spain nor in Brazil I was asked which country I flew from. That was not a problem at all, because in Xicheng district of Beijing, where I live, there was no case of COVID-19 at that time, so I was surely not in danger. When I arrived in Brazil I went to a restaurant with my family. My daughter got sick before my arrival in Brazil, and during my first three days in the country I accompanied her to a hospital, where a practitioner, who knows me and knows that I live in China, consulted me, without any special protection, for knee pain, and recommended me an orthopedist.

Meanwhile the epidemic in China became more serious and the World Health Organization (WHO) began to follow it and recommended a quarantine procedure for travelers from China. At the same time, I was also informed about increased discrimination against Asians, especially Chinese, in many countries, because of the virus. Then I could not imagine that I would also be hit by the same discrimination.

The next week I booked a consultation with the orthopedist, and had to explain to the clinic official that I needed it with some urgency due to my return to China. After some minutes, I was contacted by the city's secretary of health, who asked me to enter the clinic through another door, where a nurse would give me a mask for my consultation. However, it didn't really happen that way: when I arrived there, nobody was waiting for me and I walked up to the office of the secretary, who thought I was another patient. A few minutes later, I was finally given a mask, and the orthopedist came to me (with a mask on his face) for consultation.

The next day an ambulance stopped in front of my house and medical staff checked if I was okay. The health secretary started calling me every day to ask if I was ill. She was simply following WHO's recommendation for quarantine, but soon it became clear that her concern was not only because of the risk of an epidemic, she was also protecting herself from criticism from politicians who began accusing her of putting people in danger, and also because of rumors that began to circulate in that small town.

During the next days I had lots of fun because of those rumors: in a town with less than 15,000 residents, rumors quickly spread around and any triviality catches people’s attention. At first people said that I came from China with the new coronavirus pneumonia and had already infected lots of people. The next day there was another version: I was hospitalized in China, but fled from the hospital and from China to get to Brazil (Can a seriously ill person do that?). Other people, who probably don't know me, assumed that I was Chinese, and a curious boy asked my neighbors about the Chinese man. My friend, who is a taxi driver, laughed telling me about a woman who got in her car and started saying a sick Chinese just came from Japan! My friend said, "He was on my car yesterday," and the woman became very afraid. 

February 3 was the start of school semester after the summer holiday. Suddenly the secretary of health called me again. She asked me not to send the children (my daughter and her nephew) to school and sent a car to my home to take the children and me to a doctor for health screenings. A pediatrician examined the children and attested they were okay. He explained that quarantine only applies to those who came from China, and the children would be put in quarantine only if I had a symptom. But just to avoid panic from parents of other children, he advised us not to send the children to school during that week. A practitioner just asked me if I had any symptoms and then testified that I was not sick.

But that was not enough to stop the gossips: during the week, other children's mothers called the school principal to express their fear that my daughter would deliver the virus to their children. After being informed that my daughter was not going to school, they became even more afraid: for them that was the proof that my daughter and her nephew were infected by coronavirus, and they told that to my daughter’s ballet teacher, who called my family saying that it was better for my daughter not to go to the lesson on Friday for other children’s safety. That could not be tolerated: my daughter loves ballet and was counting the days for her classes. Besides, my quarantine was over, and that proves she was not a risk to others.

After chatting with the teacher and explaining the misunderstandings, I also called my lawyer to be informed about my daughter’s rights. On February 7, I went to the airport to fly back to China, while my daughter went to the ballet school.

When discrimination impacted my daughter, it made me very sad. It also made me sad to see my mother crying because of those rumors. Like many Chinese around the world, I also suffered discrimination because of an illness never seen before. How can people in the 21st century still act so childishly and irrationally? This prompted me to return to China to report on the epidemic and thus contribute to the spread of the truth and to fight misinformation that had caused problems and sufferings to many people.

Facts proved that epidemic respects no borders and its outbreak leaves no one out, as an increasing number of cases in more countries were reported over the last few days.

The World Health Organization (WHO) therefore raised the risk assessment of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from "high" to "very high" at a global level on February 28, and the UN chief called for intensified efforts to contain COVID-19 without stigmatization.

It is natural for countries to deal with common challenges hand in hand as mankind is a community with a shared future.

To date, China has taken unprecedented measures to fight at the forefront against the epidemic.

Virus knows no borders, but the worst of times reveals the best in people. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries' governments and people have lent support and help to China, which reinforced the confidence of victory and made people gain friendship.

Now when countries including Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Italy and Iran are seeing increasing COVID-19 cases, China has tried its best to share information and offer support to the affected countries.

Many overseas Chinese in Japan voluntarily went to the streets to distribute face masks they went to length to collect, expressing gratitude to the Japanese people for their selfless help to China after the virus outbreak. China has made an emergency donation of nucleic acid detection kits and medical equipment to Iran, which was the first country to extend its sympathy when COVID-19 broke out in China.

"You throw a peach to me; I give you a white jade for friendship." As the line from the Book of Songs goes, the interaction between China and other virus affected countries are the very epitomes of how China and the whole international community have been dealing with global challenges together.

In the trend of mutual help and understanding, people can feel confidence instead of panic and find more ways out of difficulties instead of problems.

However, it is disappointing to see that when the international community joins hands to fight the epidemic, some people still make irresponsible moves to defame China's efforts, and even attack and slander the nation and its people.

China is ready to maintain close communication with relevant countries, the WHO and the international community to share experience in epidemic prevention, coordinate prevention and control measures and better safeguard the health and well-being of all.

People should be aware that at this critical moment, no country will remain safe and sound by taking a beggar-thy-neighbor approach, while the advisable way forward is to tide over difficulties together with mutual support.

Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapon, with people united around the same purpose of prevailing over a disease that threatens all.

How should people with lung issues deal with COVID-19?

During the COVID-19 outbreak, there is a special group of people who are much more susceptible to the virus than others - patients with chronic lung diseases like asthma.

1. Try to avoid going to hospitals during the epidemic, and instead keep in touch with the doctors through online services;

2. Do not change treatment plans or medication without consulting doctors;

3. Strictly follow the basic advice such as reducing outdoor activities, wearing masks and washing hands frequently and carefully.

For these people, going outdoors, especially to hospitals, will add to the risk of cross infection and inducing asthma, while reducing exposure to possible pathogens will not only protect them from the novel coronavirus, but also prevent the induction of other lung diseases.

Can heavy use of disinfectants trigger asthma?

The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) means that the daily use of disinfectant has become a necessity for ordinary people. But it isn’t suitable for everyone. Even though regular ventilation and disinfection have become routine, using disinfectants liberally may be a trigger for asthma.

Normally disinfectants can be divided into nine types according to their components, including oxidizing disinfectants, peroxide disinfectants, aldehyde disinfectants and iodine. Most of these have a pungent smell.

Can women with COVID-19 breastfeed their babies?

For confirmed parturients, breastfeeding is not recommended. Bottle-feeding is better. Existing data shows that the novel coronavirus nucleic acid was not detected in breast milk. But the number of such confirmed cases is quite small, which makes it hard to say anything for sure. However, there is a risk of infection by contact during breastfeeding. Therefore, bottle-feeding is advised.

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