Coronavirus deaths increase, Party apologies
by Wang Zhicheng

The number of victims rise to 563. Infections to 28,018; 3694 more cases in one day. Suspected cases also jump 5328 to a total of 24,702. you can get infected in 15 seconds. A newborn baby got sick 30 hours after birth. Doctors work for at least 12 consecutive hours, without breaks, without eating, without going to the bathroom because there are not enough suits to change. The Party apologizes for not having many beds available.


Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese authorities confirm this morning that there are 563 coronavirus deaths in the country; 73 people died yesterday alone. The number of infections rose to 28,018, 3694 more cases in one day. Suspected cases also jumped 5328 to a total of 24,702. Wuhan's doctors continue to point out the lack of medical supplies and medicines, while the two new hospitals have been opened to welcome thousands of patients.

Meanwhile, researchers are discovering new aspects of the disease: a 56-year-old man from Ningbo (Zhejiang) was infected after only being 15 seconds together with another man, who was later confirmed to be ill. The two wore no protective masks.

An infant was infected just 30 hours after birth from the mother who tested positive for the coronavirus test. This confirms fears that pregnant women may pass the virus on to their unborn babies.

In an interview with Caixin, a Wuhan doctor, Peng Zhiyong, recounted how medical personnel live in the epicenter city of the epidemic. Doctors and nurses are overwhelmed by the number of patients, the lack of beds, masks, overalls and treatments. They work for at least 12 consecutive hours, without breaks, without eating, without going to the bathroom because there are not enough suits to change.

In the evening, they study the various aspects of the disease. Dr Peng noted that those with strong immune systems begin to heal after the second week, but the second week is crucial because there may be exacerbations that risk worsening the situation. For the third week, acutely ill patients need extraordinary interventions. According to the doctor, the death rate in Wuhan is 4-5%. More generally, the percentage seems to be around 2%, lower than that of Sars, which was 10%.

At a press conference last night, Hu Lishan, deputy secretary of the Wuhan Communist Party, apologized to the population for not being able to treat all patients with hospital care as there was a shortage of medical supplies and beds. In recent weeks the members of the Wuhan Party have been criticized not only for the lack of beds, but also for the slowness in responding to the emergency and in declaring it publicly, keeping it silent for over a month and branding the reports that emerged from hospitals as "fake news".

China managed to build two hospitals in Wuhan in a very short time that can accommodate 1000 and 1600 patients. In addition, a stage and two conference rooms are being prepared in "modular hospitals" for the treatment of patients with non-serious symptoms. This will add about 3800 beds.