A collection of coverage on COVID-19 from BRNN members and other media

A collection of coverage on COVID-19 from BRNN members and other media

Report list

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  BRNN members debunk rumors, praise China’s efforts to curb epidemic

  Ever since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia, members of theBelt and RoadNews Network (BRNN), as well as foreign media outlets that have participated in BRNN short-term media workshops, have paid close attention to and praised Chinas decisive and effective measures to curb the spread of the epidemic. They called for opposing all kinds of false statements and voiced their support for China in the battle against the epidemic.Screenshot from South Africas Independent OnlineIqbal Survé, executive chairman of South Africas Independent Media, offered high praise to the Chinese peoples endeavors under the leadership of ­Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a letter addressed several days ago to Li Baoshan, president of the Peoples Daily and chair of the BRNN."I believe that the Chinese people will eventually overcome the challenges, just as they have faced difficulties before in history," Survé said. He noted that all media outlets under Independent Media are determined to fight back against false news that aims to slander the Chinese government and its peoples fight against the virus, and that they are committed to providing South African readers with true and comprehensive information.Under Independent Media, Pretoria News published an article written by David Monyae, director of Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg. In the article titled "Fear of China hampers fight against corona," Monyae wrote, "Theres a need to build a united front in combating the spread of the disease and finding a cure."Cape Times, also under Independent Media, published an article titled "Cape Town Mediclinic denies coronavirus death claim," which debunked rumors, introduced scientific information about the coronavirus and detailed public health institutions efforts to curb the epidemic.Screenshot from Russias Rossiyskaya GazetaRussias TASS and Rossiyskay...

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  Russian diplomat warns against fake reports on coronavirus in Western media

  MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. During a briefing on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has called on the Western media to refrain from publishing fake reports on the outbreak of novel coronavirus in China.File photo: Xinhua"Having read today’s media reports, having monitored the messages of Western news agencies and TV channels, I am simply horrified by what is published on the territory of states that consider themselves civilized, profess the high ideals of democracy and defend human rights on international platforms," the diplomat said. "I have never seen such direct mockery of China and the Chinese nation by the authors of numerous publications who use disinformation and fake news with no consideration for the country and its people faced with an outbreak of a new virus.""I suppose, it is useless to call for honesty, morality and decency in the modern world," Zakharova lamented. "It is necessary to reconsider and reread everything that was signed and declared within the walls of the UN its entities," the Russian diplomat stressed. "One should not simply bring up these principles during political sessions, one should live by them. If the country and its people are going through such an ordeal, it would be right to show compassion."On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. The disease spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global hea...

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  UAE Press: China deserves the world's support

  ABU DHABI, 31st January, 2020 (WAM) -- A UAE newspaper has said that Beijing has been praised for its efforts to contain the outbreak but its people "need our sympathy and help."File photo: XinhuaIn an editorial on the outbreak of Coronavirus, The National said, "In the quarantined Chinese metropolis of Wuhan this week, otherwise-empty streets have been filled with the spirited shouts of residents. Advised to stay at home for fear of spreading the new strain of coronavirus that emerged in the city this month, thousands of Wuhanese have stood on the terraces of their apartments, yelling: Stay strong, Wuhan!."It is a show of unity cutting through an atmosphere of alarm, the paper added "Chinese authorities have taken significant measures to contain the epidemic, including a ban on transport in Wuhan and a lockdown of Hubei province. Beijing has also shared data with other countries and worked with international institutions such as the WHO to help counter this threat. As stated by the World Health Organisation’s director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, such efforts have helped to limit the international spread of the virus outside China to 68 cases and no deaths so far."The paper continued, "There is an inherent sense of disconnection in any decision to quarantine or isolate. But it is important to remember that such measures are limited to physical contact, and in the service of a greater, collective effort. They should not detract from the fundamental lesson of epidemics, which is that we are all in this together. In the words of Dr Ghebreyesus, China "needs the worlds solidarity and support" to fight coronavirus.The paper underlined the importance of doubling efforts to heal as fractures appear and wounds deepen: "Lessons must be learnt, and immunity must be built. This is something doctors know well, but of which many global political leaders often need reminding. The citizens of Wuhan and China ...

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  FG sets up Coronavirus Preparedness Group

  Following the potential spread of Novel Coronavirus beyond 19 countries, the Nigerian government has set up a Coronavirus Preparedness Group to mitigate the impact of the virus should it find its way into the country.File photo: CGNTIn its latest public health advisory released Friday, the federal government, through the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said given the situation, it has put in place quick and diverse strategies to prevent importation of Coronavirus cases into Nigeria, hence the setup of the multi-sectoral group.As at Friday, the virus has spread to 18 countries, with 7,818 confirmed cases and 170 deaths. Its case fatality rate is currently 2.2 per cent.Countries currently affected by the outbreak are Japan, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Republic of Singapore, Thailand, United States of America, Australia, Nepal, French Republic, Malaysia, Canada, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, India and Finland, and of course China. No African country has so far been affected.According to the advisory released Friday and signed by the Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the federal government said it was closely monitoring the ongoing Novel Coronavirus 2019 outbreak which originated in Wuhan city in China.Ihekweazu said: “Coronavirus Preparedness Group has been constituted to carry out regular epidemic intelligence gathering, enhanced surveillance at the points of entry, intensive risk communications, strengthen laboratory capacity for testing, placing National First Rapid Response Team to highly pathogenic infections on alert, scaling up of Public Health Emergency Operation Centres in states, among other measures.“The group has representatives from Federal Ministry Of Health, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), World Health Organisation (WHO), US Centers for Disease Control (US-CDC), Pro-Health International (PHI), Public Health England (PHE) and others working with the NCDC in assessing and mana...

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  China deserves the world's support

  ABU DHABI, 31st January, 2020 (WAM) -- A UAE newspaper has said that Beijing has been praised for its efforts to contain the outbreak but its people "need our sympathy and help."File photoIn an editorial on the outbreak of Coronavirus, The National said, "In the quarantined Chinese metropolis of Wuhan this week, otherwise-empty streets have been filled with the spirited shouts of residents. Advised to stay at home for fear of spreading the new strain of coronavirus that emerged in the city this month, thousands of Wuhanese have stood on the terraces of their apartments, yelling: Stay strong, Wuhan!."It is a show of unity cutting through an atmosphere of alarm, the paper added "Chinese authorities have taken significant measures to contain the epidemic, including a ban on transport in Wuhan and a lockdown of Hubei province. Beijing has also shared data with other countries and worked with international institutions such as the WHO to help counter this threat. As stated by the World Health Organisation’s director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, such efforts have helped to limit the international spread of the virus outside China to 68 cases and no deaths so far."The paper continued, "There is an inherent sense of disconnection in any decision to quarantine or isolate. But it is important to remember that such measures are limited to physical contact, and in the service of a greater, collective effort. They should not detract from the fundamental lesson of epidemics, which is that we are all in this together. In the words of Dr Ghebreyesus, China "needs the worlds solidarity and support" to fight coronavirus.The paper underlined the importance of doubling efforts to heal as fractures appear and wounds deepen: "Lessons must be learnt, and immunity must be built. This is something doctors know well, but of which many global political leaders often need reminding. The citizens of Wuhan and China have ral...

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  Moon vows more active support for China in fight against coronavirus

  SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in expressed hope Friday that China will defeat the ongoing viral outbreak at an early date and pledged South Koreas active support for the "close neighbor" to that end, as he greeted Beijings new top envoy here at his office, according to Cheong Wa Dae.After receiving Xing Haimings credentials, Moon had a conversation joined by Tokyos new ambassador to Seoul, Koji Tomita, who also presented the president with his credentials in an official ceremony.Moon expressed his sympathy for the "big trouble" the Chinese government and people are undergoing due to the virus and wished for the quick recovery of patients there, Han Jung-woo, director of Cheong Wa Daes Chunchugwan press center, said in a press release.Moon was quoted as telling Xing, "The South Korean government will provide support for the Chinese government more actively to (help) resolve the novel coronavirus problem as early as possible."President Moon Jae-in (R) shakes hands with the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming, taking his credentials at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 7, 2020. (Photo: Yonhap)Once China rides out the crisis and refocuses on economic development, Seoul-Beijing relations will develop faster, he added.The ambassador said his government will endeavor to overcome the difficulties and that he was especially impressed by Moons statement that Chinas suffering is that of South Korea.Xing reaffirmed Beijings commitment to support and cooperation for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a process for permanent peace.Moon replied that it is natural to help a "close neighbor" in need.He also took note of Xings experience and expertise on Korean Peninsula affairs as a veteran diplomat who has served in both South and North Korea for a long time.Moon said Xings service in Seoul is expected to contribute to not only Seoul-Beijing ties but...

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  China welcomes Pakistan's efforts in supplying medical aid for coronavirus

  The Chinese government on Friday welcomed Pakistan’s efforts in supplying medical aid during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the country.(File photo: The News International)“China has the confidence, capacity and determination to win against and control this epidemic,” Chinese Deputy Director-General of Asian Affairs Yao Wen said during a joint briefing by the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Wen apprised the audience about the thorough and exceptional measures taken by the government of China to control the outbreak.The number of deaths from Chinas new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 722 on Saturday after another 86 people were reported dead from the virus. The Chinese Health Commission also confirmed another 3,399 new cases, with more than 34,500 confirmed infections across the country.The meeting was held to update the participating Pakistani community, students and media about the joint efforts to support and facilitate the Pakistani community in China, especially Wuhan and Hubei province amidst the novel coronavirus outbreak.The diplomat lauded the support from iron brother Pakistan in this difficult time and thanked the Government of Pakistan for supplying medical aid.He also mentioned the messages of sympathy from the president and prime minister of Pakistan to the Chinese leadership.Pakistans Ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi, in her keynote speech, paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the Chinese nation during these testing times and said that they have proven that they can control this outbreak with their extraordinary determination. She said that, like true brothers, Pakistan will stand shoulder to shoulder by the Chinese side.She emphasised that the Embassy is in constant contact with the relevant authorities; in Hubei province, Wuhan, and different universities where Pakistani students are currently studying.She advised the students to stay firm and follow the procedures advised by ...

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  China lauds Pakistan's efforts, thanks ‘iron brother’ for supplying medical aid for coronavirus

  Chinese Deputy Director-General of Asian Affairs Yao Wen on Friday welcomed Pakistan’s efforts during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the country.File photo: geo.tv“China has the confidence, capacity and determination to win against and control this epidemic,” Wen said during a joint briefing by the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Wen apprised the audience about the thorough and exceptional measures taken by the government of China to control the outbreak.The meeting was held to update the participating Pakistani community, students and media about the joint efforts to support and facilitate the Pakistani community in China, especially Wuhan and Hubei province amidst the novel coronavirus outbreak.The diplomat lauded the support from iron brother Pakistan in this difficult time and thanked the Government of Pakistan for supplying medical aid.He also mentioned the messages of sympathy from the president and prime minister of Pakistan to the Chinese leadership.Pakistans Ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi, in her keynote speech, paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the Chinese nation during these testing times and said that they have proven that they can control this outbreak with their extraordinary determination. She said that, like true brothers, Pakistan will stand shoulder to shoulder by the Chinese side.She emphasised that the Embassy is in constant contact with the relevant authorities; in Hubei province, Wuhan, and different universities where Pakistani students are currently studying.She advised the students to stay firm and follow the procedures advised by the Chinese government meticulously so as to ensure maximum safety.

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  Thousands of Chinese convey heartfelt gratitude to Pakistan for support against coronavirous

  File photoHashtag (Russia Pakistan) has become an overnight hit on China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo, reflecting Chinese people’s gratitude for their iron-clad friends amid China’s fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.According to Gowadar pro App, the newest trending topic has been discussed 61,000 times and read 250 million times so far.As many Chinese netizens put it, they are incredibly thankful and happy that Pakistani brothers firmly support China’s efforts to prevent and control the outbreak, and are willing to provide any help to China in fighting the epidemic.Some wasted no time interacting with the hottest post noting “A friend in need is a friend indeed”, sharing it 21,855 times and making 14,409 comments.Under the trending topic, some Chinese netizens posted their drawings to say thanks to Pakistani friends. On the afternoon of Feb. 12, a Sina Weibo account nicknamed “Xifengbazhua” posted a drawing of a Pakistani goat taking off its outer garment, and it was like,“It’s all for you, my bro!” The cartoon picture soon got noticed and was reposted for over 6,000 times. The hottest comment of the post said the goat was so cute and what Pakistan did for China moved everyone to tears.Also, an account nicknamed “MUMU mumumu” posted a drawing and the caption “Thanks, Russia & Pakistan.” It showed the animated images of China, Russia and Pakistan featured by a crying panda, a composed bear and a warm-hearted goat respectively.The post soon resonated with Chinese internet users. Some netizens commented that they were touched and to visit Pakistan when the epidemic is gone was added to their to-do lists, and others expressed their appreciation for Pakistan.

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  China closely working with Ethiopia to prevent coronavirus

  China is closely working with the government of Ethiopia to prevent the entry of new coronavirus to Ethiopia, according to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Addis Ababa.File photoIn a press release sent to ENA, The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia has urged Chinese nationals coming to and residing in Ethiopia to fully comply with the screening procedures.The embassy also urged for Chinese national in Ethiopia to take strict prevention actions such as self-isolation measures when necessary.Since the onset of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures with a strong sense of responsibility for people’s health.China will continue to work with the World healthOrganization (WHO) and other countries to safeguard regional and global public health security, the press release stated.Though Ethiopia still has no coronavirus positive case, the country intensifies its preventative measures at Bole International Airport for thermal screening, preliminary surveillance, and testing of arrivals from China and its neighboring countries.

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  West blind to China’s effective anti-Coronavirus measures

  As the fight against Coronavirus revs up, the united Chinese nation continues to support its governmen’ts effective initiatives, which ultimately will bring positive results as early as this week in record time, with a project of a 1000-bed hospital completed in just 10 days. Similarly, the government decision to restrict unnecessary traveling is also applauded in the fight against the coronavirus. Looking from a distance as a media researcher and professional, I am touched with reading, hearing and watching the stories of Chinese people, the foreigners that they claim to be very satisfied with the government steps to contain virus spread.(Photo: China Daily)Although I am looking at this crisis from far away, many like me are also elsewhere looking at the situation,n but unfortunately, reports presented in Western media outlets are somehow showing a negative angle of the ongoing Chinese fight against the epidemic. Many countries have joined hands with the Chinese government in their struggle against this so far untreatable outbreak, such as Turkey, Pakistan, Australia, Russia, and other countries. But the USA and Britain seem to be taking advantage of this unprecedented situation. They are using the media as a tool to show negative news related to China and their current struggle, thus turning the calamity to political point-scoring.The Western media, as well as social media, make fun of the Chinese food culture which, like any other cuisine, has a culinary distinctiveness. Such as that at some diners, there is an unorthodox dishes with recipes that include certain animals and plants, and in many cases are based on the delusion that exotic creatures have nourishing and medicinal qualities. But like any other country, such culinary traditions are discouraged in China, and furthermore, the trading of endangered wildlife is a criminal offense. Though, the West ignored this fact, and started spreading misinformation about the crisis. As, they termed this epidemic to be ...

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  China sends more doctors to Wuhan as coronavirus deaths surge past 1,500

  China sends more doctors to Wuhan as coronavirus deaths surge past 1,500China on Saturday deployed more medics to the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan as the death toll surged past 1,500 in the country while authorities set stringent new quarantine rules for people returning from Lunar New Year vacations.The National Health Commission said 143 new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across the country with 139 of them taking place in Hubei province, the epicenter of the disease.Women wearing protective masks walk at a residential area in Beijing, China, Feb.15, 2020. (Photos: EFE-EPA)Workers wearing protective suits prepare to leave after disinfecting a residential area in Beijing, China, Feb.15, 2020.Medical staff in discussion in Wuhan Fangcang hospital, a makeshift hospital to treat Covid-19 patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, Feb.14, 2020.Medical staff carry out disinfection work in Wuhan Fangcang hospital, a makeshift hospital to treat Covid-19 patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, Feb.14, 2020.Medical staff attend to patients in Wuhan Fangcang hospital, a makeshift hospital to treat Covid-19 patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, Feb.14, 2020.

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  ‘We have taken strong and comprehensive measures to fight COVID-19’: Ambassador Cao Zhongming

  Ahead of today’s (13 February) extraordinarymeeting of European health ministersto discuss theCOVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and related measures,EU Reportermetthe Chinese AmbassadorCao Zhongming, to find out more about China’s response and how it was working together with international partners.(File photo: China Daily)Q: What measures China has taken in response to Covid-19?The sudden outbreak of Covid-19 is a challenge for China. After the outbreak, the Chinese government quickly and vigorously adopted a host of stringent and comprehensive measures. We set up the Central Leading Group on responding to the novel coronavirus outbreak, and established a comprehensive, multi-tier prevention and control system comprising the central and local governments.Q: How has China been interacting with the external world, including the WHO?After the onset of the epidemic, China has carried out international co-operation in an open, transparent and responsible manner. China notified the international community, including the WHO, of the outbreak as soon as possible. Within a week, Chinese researchers shared the genetic sequence of the COVID-19with WHO and other countries, enabling quick development of diagnostic reagents and vaccines. Daily updates of the epidemic were also provided. Efforts by the Chinese government werewell receivedby the WHO and the international community. While making the utmost efforts to contain the epidemic, China is ready to work together with international partners to fight shoulder–to–shoulder and win the battle against the outbreak.Q: What was the response of EU countries to the epidemic? Have they provided help or expertise?The outbreak has received great attention from EU countries.TheEuropean Commission President Von derLeyenand Premier Li Keqiang spoke on the phone to support China’s fight against the epidemic...

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  Russia will continue supplying medical equipment to counter coronavirus - Lavrov

  Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov (Photo: Xinhua)MUNICH, February 15. /TASS/. Russia intends to continue supporting China in combating the coronavirus outbreak by supplying medical equipment, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference."I would like to express once again our satisfaction of consistent development of our strategic partnership agreement and confirm our solidarity with the China’s people and leadership in connection with efforts to eliminate the coronavirus epidemics," Lavrov said. "Your efforts are implemented fairly successfully and transparent. Russia sets a high value on that," he said."We will definitely continue the forms of support, including by way of sending humanitarian medical equipment," the Russian foreign minister added.The topic of coronavirus was raised at certain sessions of the Munich Security Conference but did not become the dominating in discussions. Conference participants focus on the European security issues, in the first instance, relations between the EU and Russia, China and the United States, and the situation in Syria.The Chinese authorities registered an outbreak of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the city of Wuhan in late December 2019. Cases of new coronavirus were found in 25 other countries and territories, including Russia. The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. According to latest reports, over 66,400 cases of new coronavirus were confirmed in China, the death toll climbed to 1,523, and over 8,000 people recovered from the virus.

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  Spreading of coronavirus in and from China under effective control

  Lin Songtian, Ambassador of China to South Africa.Cape Town - Since last December, the outbreak of theNovel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) in Wuhan, Hubei and China as a whole has been drawing high attention worldwide, and also gets all-dimensional supports from the international community, especially from South Africa and Africa.We highly appreciate the concerted efforts and support from the world. Hereby, I would like to share the latest epidemic situations, and the inspiring results of the control measures as following:As of 24:00 on February 11, the China National Health Commission of China had received 44,653 reports of confirmed cases of NCP and 1113 deaths in 31 provincial-level regions on mainland China, and in all 4 740 patients had been cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 38 800 confirmed cases (including 8 204 in serious condition) and 16 067 suspected cases. So far, 451 462 people have been identified as having had close contact with infected patients, and 185 037 of them are now under medical observation.As of 24:00 on February 1,177 confirmed infections had been reported in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan,China: 49 in Hong Kong (1 death), 18 in Taiwan (1 discharged from hospital), 10 in Macao (1 discharged from hospital).According to the data released by the China National Health Commission since January 21, 2020, the number of new confirmed cases in China reached a peak of 3 887 on February 4, and then continued to decline for the following 8 days, dropping to 2,015 on February 10.The number of new suspected cases peaked at 5,328 on February 5 and then continued to decline to 3 342 on February 11.Since February 5, the number of new cured patients has increased significantly, reaching 744 on February 11, with the total number of cured patients reaching 4 740 and the cure rate reaching 9.4%, registering a substantial rise.The total number of deaths on February 11 was 97. So far, a tot...

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  Ethiopians continues to operate flights to China

  Ethiopian Airlines reaffirmed that flights to China have not suspended and will continue to operate its regular flights.File photoAccording to a statement issued by the Airlines late on Thursday that all flights to China have not suspended.“We are operating our regular flights to all of our five gateways in China, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong with the usual supply and demand adjustment that we always make during the Chinese New Year Holidays,” read the statement.The announcement comes following other airlines reportedly cut flights to China once a fall in demand.The statement added that the airlines is working together with all relevant Chinese and Ethiopian authorities to protect its passengers and flight crew from infection in full compliance with IATA,WHO,CDC guidelines.It also said China is one of the strongest and oldest market destinations for Ethiopian airlines and reassured its full commitment to stand with the government and people of China at all times.The airlines also have been connecting China with entire continent for almost half a century and it’s the growth strategic market of the airlines, the statement indicated.

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  China calls for united global effort to combat novel coronavirus epidemic

  BEIJING, Feb 4 (APP): China on Tuesday called for united global efforts to combat novel coronavirus outbreak and urged all the countries to assess the epidemic situation in an objective, fair, calm and rational manner.“As you may know, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made it clear that it does not recommendand even opposes travel restrictions against China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, Hua Chunying said during her online briefing.File photoShe said that the Chinese government was making all-out efforts to combat the epidemic, releasing information in an open, transparent and responsible manner, and taking the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures.“All this has been fully recognized and highly appreciated by the international community,” she added.The spokesperson said that China understood that some countries had taken appropriate measures to prevent and control the spread of the epidemic, but hoped that all countries could assess the epidemic situation in an objective, fair, calm and rational manner, understand and support China’s epidemic control efforts.“The measures they take, should be in line with WHO recommendations, rather than exceed reasonable levels, and should not affect normal personnel exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields,” she added.According to the latest update released by China National Health Commission, there were 20,471confirmed cases of coronavirus in China while 159 persons tested positive abroad.So far, 426 people have died in China mostly in Wuhan, the epicenter of new coronavirus while one person has reportedly died in the Philippines. Around 632 recovered from the disease.The health experts have warned of the risk of re-infection for the recovered people while human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.The Chinese government has activated level-1 emergency response in its 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.It may be mentioned that a pneumonia ...

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  Cape Town Mediclinic denies coronavirus death claim

  (File picture: Reuters)Cape Town – Private hospital group Mediclinic Southern Africa has debunked a tweet claiming a man died of the coronavirus at one of its hospitals.A tweet sent by a @MarkSmit222 alleged a person died at the Louis Leipoldt Mediclinic in Bellville.It said: “My good friend’s colleague, Steve Gouws, working at international Chinese company, ZTE, Cape Town, South Africa died at 1pm today after being exposed to another colleague who returned from China last week. Hospital refused to say coronavirus. They claim it’s swine flu (sic)”.After being pressed for answers by followers, he tweeted again.“My tweet was not to create fear but create awareness. Proper screening precautions are not done at airports as is done in other countries. Also, people have the right to know where this person died. It was Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt in Bellville, Cape Town,” he tweeted.Mediclinic Southern Africa group said it had no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.“We would like to provide the reassurance that, in strict accordance with the protocols, Mediclinic Southern Africa has implemented the necessary measures to manage any patients presenting with symptoms and to prevent the potential transmission of the virus in our facilities,” the hospital group said.It urged South Africans to take necessary precautions when travelling to affected areas.“We also encourage anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of flu or who think that they may have been exposed to the virus to contact their health-care provider.”Meanwhile, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that the 61 patients it had tested in South Africa for the coronavirus had tested negative.The institute said it would continue its surveillance as the virus that started in Wuhan, China, spread across the globe.“A division of the National Health Laboratory Service will continue its surveillance activities and testing of individuals with symptoms of 2019-nCoV (coronavirus). We can confi...

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  China Closely Working with Ethiopia to Prevent Coronavirus

  Addis Ababa, February 2/2020 (ENA) China is closely working with the government of Ethiopia to prevent the entry of Coronavirus to Ethiopia, according to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Addis Ababa.File photo: ENAIn a press release sent to ENA, The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia has urged Chinese nationals coming to and residing in Ethiopia to fully comply with the screening procedures.The embassy also urged for Chinese national in Ethiopia to take strict prevention actions such as self-isolation measures when necessary.Since the onset of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures with a strong sense of responsibility for people’s health.China will continue to work with the World healthOrganization (WHO) and other countries to safeguard regional and global public health security, the press release stated.Though Ethiopia still has no coronavirus positive case, the country intensifies its preventative measures at Bole International Airport for thermal screening, preliminary surveillance, and testing of arrivals from China and its neighboring countries.Reports show that the death toll from a new coronavirus outbreak has jumped to more than 300 and thousands more were confirmed infected, bringing the total to 14,380 people.

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  Coronavirus: It's a health issue, not a political game

  INTERNATIONAL – While the world is racing against time to save lives from the coronavirus outbreak, there have been unexpected responses.(Photo: Xinhua)US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the virus could “help” to bring jobs to the US. He suggested that American businesses should reconsider their supply chains.For sure, business will be affected, both Chinese and foreign. But a temporary outbreak is unlikely to play a big part in long-term business plans. There are many factors to consider in running a business. Any decision to retain or relocate businesses must only be market-and-profit driven, free from politicisation.Ross’ thinking of benefiting from a Chinese crisis has been roundly criticised by health experts. Georges C Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said: “American companies would have more reason to be concerned about gun violence or measles outbreaks stateside in terms of actual risk to their health than coronavirus.”Secretary Ross, who once suggested federal workers turning to food banks during US government shutdown should consider borrowing from banks to pay their bills, has crossed the line and there are others also attempting to politicise this public health crisis.It would be a heated debate if you explore the strength or weakness of different political models. Yet, there’s one facet that speaks loudest about a system: its track record, such as poverty alleviation, life expectancy, and large-scale travel abroad and back home.Looking at only the current battle against the virus, we have seen a much faster and better co-ordinated response compared to the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic 17 years ago, on national, provincial and grassroot levels. The construction of two specialised hospitals is almost half complete after just four days of work.Cities in Hubei Province remain on lockdown but supplies for everyday life is basically guaranteed. Other provinces have dispatched a strong-contin...

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  Pakistani doctor hailed for volunteering to treat coronavirus patients in Wuhan

  BEIJING, Feb 2 -- A Pakistani doctor who volunteered to treat coronavirus patients in Wuhan epidemic area as a volunteer has got appreciation from Pakistani students and community members residing in China.Photo ofDr. Usman.Dr. Usman, a Pakistani teacher at Changsha Medical College is the first foreign doctor who stepped forward to treat infected people in Wuhan as a volunteer."I salute you. Our friendship with China is not just rhetoric. It is a special relationship between the two countries," Salman Ali, a Pakistani student posted these comments on social media apps.Several Pakistani traders, businessmen across China have also applauded the noble gesture by the Pakistani doctor who is fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Chinese paramedics against the epidemic. They shared the news report about Dr. Usman on social media.Usman, 29, had dreamed of becoming a doctor since he was a child. He graduated from Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine with a bachelor’s degree in 2012 and returned to Pakistan to practice medicine for four years.During the four years of stay in his hometown, he had always been unable to forget China and Changsha. He said that China had provided him with good opportunities for education and employment and realized his dream.In 2016, he returned to China and began studying for a master’s degree in medicine at Central South University in Changsha. After graduation, he became a foreign teacher at Changsha medical college.“The news said the epidemic area is now the lack of medical staff, I am a doctor, I love China, I would like to go to the Wuhan, epidemic area to help the doctor!”Seeing the media continuously broadcast the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus in China, on January 27th, Usman formally applied to the foreign experts service office of Hunan science and technology department, hoping that he could go to the Wuhan epidemic area for medical assistance.“The staff of the foreign expert service se...

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  Fear of China hampers fight against coronavirus

  (Photo: China Daily)Xenophobia, ideology and the Western fear for China’s rise are the triple burdens that hinder the fight against the 2019 coronavirus.Recently, Kevin Rudd, former Australian prime minister and president of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York, wrote: “The wider world should show sympathy and express solidarity with the long-suffering Chinese people.“These are ugly times and the racism implicit (and sometimes explicit) in many responses to Chinese people around the world makes me question just how far we have really come as a human family.”Rudd’s people-centred global approach in the fight against coronavirus resonates with a well-known African idiom, Inxeba lendoda alihlekwa, used among the Nguni dialects, which simply means: “The wound of a man is not laughed at.”In reporting on the coronavirus, The Wall Street Journal carried an article by Bard College Professor Walter Russell Mead, titled “China is the Real Sick Man of Asia”.The professor and newspaper are well aware that the term “sick man of Asia” is a derogatory phrase that emanates from China’s century of humiliation at the hands of Western and Japanese powers.Xenophobic tendencies against Chinese people have spread globally mainly through social media which constantly portrays the virus as having been caused by Chinese people’s eating habits.The second frontal attack against the attempts by the Chinese authorities to speedily conquer the virus are cloaked in ideological clothes. The main aim of such attacks are twofold: firstly, to advance the long-held view that liberal democracies handle and manage epidemics and general crises much better than what is considered as an authoritarian regime. The weakness of such an argument lies in the fact it is ahistorical. The US itself is littered with mismanagement of crises confronted by its people.The Guardian newspaper in the UK carried an article by Emma Graham-Harrison on January 31,which argued: “China soon won international plaudits fo...

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  Local Press: More scrutiny and less panic required to tackle coronovirus

  ABU DHABI, 1st February, 2020 (WAM) -- Although the World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus to be a worldwide health emergency, the WHO also clarified that there was no reason to restrict international travel over the virus, said the English daily Gulf News in its editorial on Saturday.File photo: XinhuaSince first emerging in China in the city of Wuhan about two weeks ago, more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed the vast majority of those in the nation of 1.4 billion, and another 171,999 or so are being monitored for the illness, the newspaper pointed out.Yes, the scale of the outbreak has exceeded the number of cases of Severe Acquired Respiratory Syndrome, SARS, recorded in the 2003 outbreak, but the death toll stands at just over 200 and seems to be most dangerous for those who have severely weakened immune systems before contracting coronavirus, the editorial noted.Let’s be very clear the likelihood of contracting coronavirus is very small indeed. Putting it in perspective, in China, it’s a 100,000 to one chance. Here, or anywhere else, far less. And spreading disinformation on coronavirus is irresponsible and unhelpful, and authorities in the UAE are right to warn of the dangers of spreading falsehoods on social media, the daily said.Nations around the world have made their own arrangements to repatriate their citizens from Wuhan. Precautionary measures have been taken to monitor or isolate those expats on their return. A few governments have advised their people not to make unnecessary trips to China in the interim.Some international airlines have also decided to suspend flights to China over fears that they might assist in any potential dissemination of the virus, and others have cancelled flight simply because there has been a large drop-off in passengers travelling to and from there.On Friday, the UK confirmed its first two cases, and there have been reports of confirmed cases in the US and Germany.Here in the UAE where our...

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  Fight the virus, not the Chinese

  The covonavirus (nCOV-2019) is fast spreading, now to over 20 countries. The fear coronavirus spreads is far bigger than the deaths and infections put together.Illustration of unity of all races of the world. (Photo: GOOGLE IMAGES)But a worse viral load is also somewhere in some other dimension working worse damage to humanity – that is the racism, profiling, hate and alienation of the Chinese person.The social media in most parts of the world have hundreds of thousands of such hate harvest, most of all from societies that boast they are civilized and know better about what a virus should be and different from a citizen of a country from where a killer virus emanated.For the coronavirus, China is the epicenter, the birthplace from where the world picks the vibes.For the hate of it – hatovirus, the human and cultural offshoot of the coronavirus, the outer world is the epicenter. The vector is the media, especially the new media.While in Europe and the Americas the Asian is the fall guy and ‘demon’ that deliberately created the virus, in Asia, the Chinese is singled out. So pathetic!It’s quite worrisome that most of the reports about coronavirus induced hate – hatovirus, come from Asian countries close to China. Such news simmers in Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam etc.The worst of the reported cases was that of Indonesia on Friday, January 31, 2020 that “China flew overseas Hubei residents back to the centre of the outbreak in Wuhan on chartered planes from Thailand and Malaysia, citing “practical difficulties” the passengers had encountered overseas.”. That doesn’t sound cheery or humane.In Australia, after two media organisations had screamed headlines that were heavily loaded with negativity against the Chinese person, Global Times, a Beijing based media reported angst by 46,000 Chinese citizens who signed a protest against the reports and demanding a recant.The Global Times report said: “More than 46,000 people have signed a petition demanding the Austra...