BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CGTN reported Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Wuhan on March 10, when China's COVID-19 prevention and control efforts had turned the tide of the battle against the epidemic. While China has pledged to continue the fight until complete victory, the effectiveness of its playbook is drawing more and more worldwide attention.
Wuhan in the early days of the outbreak
By January 20, a total of 198 COVID-19 cases had been reported in Wuhan City. Three days later, the city was placed on lockdown to contain the spread of the disease.
"The Chinese people are now fighting a very serious battle against the epidemic," Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on January 28, adding that people's safety and health always come first, and thus the prevention and control of the virus are the country's most important tasks.
United as one in Wuhan
The country mobilized all of its resources to stem the spread of the virus, with the Chinese people showing great commitment to collective action in the face of the common threat.
The first batch of medics from outside Hubei Province was assigned to help Wuhan on January 24. So far, 46,000 medical staff from around the country, including 4,000 military medics, have been sent to Wuhan.
It's about speed. Huoshenshan Hospital, Leishenshan Hospital, 46 designated facilities and 14 temporary hospitals with over 13,400 beds have been put into use during a short time.
Community-based prevention and control played a critical role during the tough war. In Wuhan, about 40,000 government officials, staff members and Communist Party of China (CPC) members were assigned to work in more than 3,000 communities and 7,000 residential areas.
Wuhan will win, Hubei will win, and China will win
The war is tough and difficult. Over 3,000 medics in Hubei Province were infected with COVID-19 and some even laid down their lives. Luckily, China's epidemic prevention and control situation continues to improve, recording major breakthroughs.
As of March 13, 21 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps had seen no new indigenous cases for more than 14 days, while six provincial-level regions had reported no new indigenous cases for more than a week.
"You are all wearing protective suits and masks. I can't see your faces, but you are the most adorable people in my heart!" President Xi told medics during a visit to Wuhan on March 10 and encouraged them by saying, "Wuhan will win, Hubei will win, and China will win!"
About CGTN
Headquartered in Beijing, CGTN operates on television and online as a multi-language and multi-platform media organization. It has an international team of professionals based in Nairobi, Washington D.C. and London.