Coronavirus: over 3 thousand infected are doctors; 1600 in serious conditions; 21 dead

To date, 77,779 are infected in China, including 81 in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 30 in Taiwan. The total death toll is 2666, including two in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. 27,353 patients have recovered to date. Discrepancies in the number of infections among medical personnel. A study gave the figure of 3 thousand already two weeks ago. Double the government figures. The mortality rate for coronavirus is 2.3% across China, but in Hubei it is 2.9%. For patients aged 80 and over, the percentage rises to 14.8%. Controversy still over why the government delayed the epidemic alert.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - More than 3,000 people, including doctors and nurses, are affected by coronaviruses in the country, according to a team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese health authorities.

Yesterday, the death toll from Covid-19 went up by 71 new deaths and another 517 cases of infection. Most of the new cases are registered in Hubei, the epicenter of the epidemic, with 499 new infected and 68 dead. But at least 24 out of 34 provinces have not reported any new cases.

Data released by the National Health Commission last night reveal that 77,779 are now infected in China, including 81 in Hong Kong, 10 in Macau and 30 in Taiwan. The total death toll so far is 2666, including two in Hong Kong and one in Taiwan. 27,353 patients have recovered to date.

There are doubts about the accuracy of the statistics released by the government, especially those on medical personnel. The figure communicated yesterday - over 3 thousand infected – echoes a toll established a few weeks ago by a study published by the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, which is based on data collected by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of February 11, there were 3,019 infected doctors and nurses in the study, including 1,688 in serious condition. On the same day, the government had declared that around 1700 of people infected were medical personnel, 90% of whom were concentrated in Hubei.

For many weeks, doctors and nurses treated the patients of the new virus without adequate protection (masks, glasses, overalls, ...) being unprepared to face such a large epidemic and for delays in commissions.

The study also shows that the death rate from coronavirus is 2.3% across China, but 2.9% in Hubei. For patients aged 80 and over, the percentage rises to 14.8%.

According to the researchers, the Covid-19 virus initially seemed less dangerous than Sars and Mers, but now it appears much more contagious. From their study, it appears that before December 31, almost all cases were concentrated in Hubei. But after 10 days infected were registered in 20 provinces of China and after another 10 days in 30 provinces.

There are still many controversies in the country as to why the government sounded the epidemic alert so late (January 23), despite knowing the seriousness of the situation since early January. Some doctors have spread the news of the epidemic since early December, but have been silenced by the police and threatened with dismissal.

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