Wuhan Hospital Director Dies From Coronavirus, Death Toll Nears 2,000
In Wuhan, officials note 72,436 confirmed cases of the coronavirus exist, with 1,868 deaths, including that of Wuchang Hospital director Liu Zhiming, 51.
Zhiming, who passed Tuesday (Feb. 18), was the head of the leading hospital, which was based in the epicenter of the outbreak in mainland China.
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China’s National Health Commission (NHC) stated, “Since the outbreak, Comrade Liu Zhiming, regardless of his personal safety, led the medical staff of Wuchang Hospital to fight the epidemic, and made important contributions to the prevention and control of new-type coronavirus pneumonia in our city.”
Zhiming has become the ninth known fatality among medical personnel fighting the epidemic in mainland China. Prior to his passing, earlier this month, Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang contracted the virus and passed.
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While China’s NHC updates on the above, Geng Shuang, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson says, “The most stringent and thorough measures have been taken and relevant efforts are gradually showing their effects. We have the confidence and capability to win this battle.”
Additionally, the NHC also sates that since the outbreak began in December, more than 12,5000 patients have recovered from the virus and have been cleared for discharge from hospitals.