Yesterday there were 150 deaths and 409 new infected. As of today, non-Wuhan residents without coronavirus symptoms can leave the city, isolated for nearly a month. Guangdong lowers the alert level. But Wuhan's doctors warn: recovered people can be healthy carriers of the virus.
Beijing (AsiaNews) - Chinese health authorities have announced this morning that yesterday there were 150 other coronavirus victims and another 409 newly infected. To date, the total is 2595 deaths, including two in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. The total number of infected is 77262, including 74 in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 28 in Taiwan. 24757 have recovered.
All yesterday's deaths occurred in Hubei, the epicenter of the epidemic, minus one death in Hainan.
The authorities in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, have decided to loosen the isolation measures effective January 23. From today, non-residents who do not exhibit coronavirus symptoms and who have not had contact with infected people can leave the city. However, due to the blockade imposed on all communication routes, transport is still in a precarious situation. But after only three hours, an order came to reassert the isolation of the city, canceling the openings that apparently were taken without the permission of the higher authorities.
Guangdong Province also has lowered the alert from level 1 to level 2 today. Guangdong is the second most affected province, after Hubei, with 1345 cases of infections and six deaths. The authorities hope that people will be able to resume work and that the damage caused to the economy by closing their factories for almost a month will be reduced.
In any case, the authorities continue to warn the inhabitants, asking them not to participate in unnecessary rallies. For two days, the Wuhan authorities have decided to quarantine all the people who appear healed for 14 days: some of them have had a relapse. Some Wuhan doctors have expressed serious concern since they discovered that many of the recovered patients can be healthy carriers of the virus.