China admits ‘shortcomings’ in virus response

O Elite committee calls for improvements to ‘national emergency management system’

CHINA: China’s top leadership has admitted “shortcomings and difficulties” in its response to the coronavirus outbreak, as state media said a new hospital, built at breakneck pace, began receiving patients in the epicentre of the crisis.

Sixty-four new deaths were confirmed yesterday, surpassing Monday’s record to post the new biggest daily increase since the virus was detected late last year in the central city of Wuhan.

The death toll in China stood at 425, exceeding the 349 mainland fatalities from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03, which killed nearly 800 globally.

The government in Beijing nevertheless hit out at the United States for sparking “panic” with its response to the coronavirus, including a ban on foreigners who have recently been to China.

The virus has so far spread to more than 20 countries, and several other nations have instituted similarly tough travel rules.

The World Health Organisation has declared the crisis a global health emergency, and the first death outside China was confirmed in the Philippines on Sunday.

As it races to try to contain the spread of the virus, China’s elite Politburo Standing Committee called for improvements to the “national emergency management system” following “shortcoming and difficulties exposed in the response to the epidemic,“according to the official Xinhua news agency.

“It is necessary to strengthen market supervision, resolutely ban and severely crack down on illegal wildlife markets and trade,” the Politburo said on Monday, Xinhua reported.

The government also said it “urgently” needed medical equipment and surgical masks, protective suits, and safety goggles.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong yesterday became the second place outside mainland China to report the death of a coronavirus patient as restrictions on movement were imposed on two more cities far from the epicentre, including the home of Alibaba.

The death of the 39-year-old man came as the semi-autonomous city closed all but two land crossings with the mainland to slow the spread of the virus.

Macau yesterday said it will temporarily close down all casinos as the gambling hub battles the deadly coronavirus, cutting off the lifeblood of the city's economy.

The move came as the former Portuguese colony confirmed its tenth case. Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng, a pro-Beijing appointee who took office in December, said the gambling industry would shutter for two weeks, but warned the closures could be extended. "This is a difficult decision but we have to do it, for the health of our Macau residents," he said. – AFP