User:Tuanminh01/Template07
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The 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak was first manifested by a cluster of mysterious pneumonia in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in Mainland China. A Wuhan hospital notified the local center for disease control and prevention (CDC) and health commissions on 27 December 2019. On 31 December, Wuhan CDC admitted there was a cluster of unknown pneumonia regarding Huanan Seafood Market, after unverified documents appeared on the Internet. The potential disease outbreak soon drew nationwide attention, including that of the National Health Commission (NHC) in Beijing, who sent experts to Wuhan on the following day. On 8 January, a new coronavirus was identified as the cause of the pneumonia.[1] The sequence of the virus was soon published on an open-access database.[2] Measures taken by China were widely praised by many including the World Health Organization (WHO).[3][4][5] China's response appeared to be much more transparent, especially when compared to how the country responded to SARS in 2003.[4][6]
However, delayed and controversial response by the Wuhan and Hubei authorities failed to contain the outbreak in the early stage, which has led to criticism from the public and the media.[7] By 29 January, the virus had been spread to all provinces of Mainland China.[8][9][10] By 8 February, over 724 had died of the coronavirus infection-associated pneumonia and 34,878 were confirmed to be infected. In Hubei alone, there were 24,953 cases of infections and 699 related deaths.[11] All provinces of Mainland China had initiated the highest response level to public health emergency.[12] WHO declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern" on 31 January,[10] for fear that the virus spread beyond China to where there is no robust healthcare system, despite its confidence in China's efforts.[13]
Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping warned of a 'grave situation' facing China.[14][15] The Party Politburo formed a special leading group for epidemic control led by Premier Li Keqiang. Chinese New Year celebrations were cancelled. Passengers were checked for their temperatures.[16] Commands for epidemic control (CEC) have been formed in different regions including Wuhan and Hubei. Many inter-province bus services[17] and railway services have been suspended.[18] By 29th, all Hubei cities had been quarantined.[19] Curfew laws are in practice in Huanggang, Wenzhou[20] and other Mainland cities.[21] The region also sees a huge shortage of face masks and other protective gears, despite itself being the world's manufacturing hub for these products.[22]
With the increasing reported cases of infections, fear upgraded along with regional discrimination in China and racial discrimination beyond China, despite calls for stopping the discrimination by many governments.[23][24] Some rumors circulated across Chinese social media, along with counter-rumor efforts by media and governments.[25][26]