Wuhan - Credit Wikipedia
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While we await word from the Wuhan Health Commission on their latest case count, and monitor vague, unverifiable social media reports of suspected cases outside of Wuhan City, we've a lengthy statement from China's National Health Commission that reads more like a shaggy dog story than breaking news.
After providing a lengthy list of the government's investigatory steps to date, the `news' comes in the penultimate paragraph, where we get the following anti-climatic update:
Experts judged that the current epidemic situation is still preventable and controllable. However, the source of the new type of coronavirus has not been found, the transmission of the epidemic has not been fully grasped, and the mutation of the virus still needs to be closely monitored.The full (translated) statement follows.
National Health and Health Commission actively carries out prevention and control of pneumonia epidemic of new coronavirus infection
Published: 2020-01-19 Source : Health Emergency Office
Immediately after the outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, our committee immediately sent a national working group and expert team to Wuhan to study and implement the epidemic prevention and control measures with Hubei Province and Wuhan City in accordance with the principle of territorial management. On January 1, 2020, the Commission set up a leading group for epidemic response and disposal, with Director Ma Xiaowei as the team leader, to discuss and analyze the development and changes of the epidemic situation, to study and deploy prevention and control strategies and measures, and to guide and support Hubei Province and Wuhan City in case treatment, Epidemic prevention and control and emergency response.
The Committee first organized the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Military Medical Research Institute of the Academy of Military Sciences to conduct parallel laboratory testing of case samples. On January 8, 2020, a new coronavirus was initially identified as the pathogen of the epidemic. Immediately, the Commission further strengthened the departmental cooperation to study concrete measures to jointly strengthen the prevention and control of the epidemic.
A national televised conference of the national health system was held to make a comprehensive deployment of the national epidemic prevention and control work. Cases diagnosis and treatment, prevention and control programs (covering monitoring, flow adjustment, close contact management, laboratory testing, etc.) were printed, and a "daily report, zero report" system was established throughout the country.
A new coronavirus nucleic acid detection kit was issued, requiring all regions to strengthen testing, make every effort to treat patients, and promptly release confirmed cases and epidemic prevention and control information. The National Health and Welfare Office deployed a patriotic health campaign in winter and spring with the theme of strengthening market environmental sanitation.
Recently, our committee has successively dispatched working groups to provinces across the country to guide the related work of epidemic prevention and control. At the same time, we strengthened international cooperation and exchanges, and notified the World Health Organization, China ’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions and relevant countries of the epidemic information and the progress of prevention and control in a timely manner. The World Health Organization's full affirmation.
Experts judged that the current epidemic situation is still preventable and controllable. However, the source of the new type of coronavirus has not been found, the transmission of the epidemic has not been fully grasped, and the mutation of the virus still needs to be closely monitored.
In the next step, our committee will strengthen the coordination and coordination of departments and strictly implement non-proliferation measures. Continue to do a good job in national epidemic prevention and control, and timely detect and effectively deal with the epidemic. Organize a good patriotic health campaign and increase environmental sanitation. Continue to strengthen virus tracing and mutation monitoring, and make technical preparations to respond to epidemic changes. Our committee will strengthen the duty on duty during the Spring Festival, pay close attention to the development and change of the epidemic prevention and control situation, and guide the implementation of prevention and control measures.
