China Reports 65 Deaths in a Day Due to New Coronavirus... "Focusing on Increasing Treatment" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park] In China, where 490 people have died and 24,324 have been confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus so far, the government is making every effort to prevent the spread of the virus and treat patients, striving to turn the situation around. The decrease in the number of newly suspected cases and the improvement in medical conditions in Hubei Province, where patients are concentrated, are hopeful signs.

◆Cumulative deaths 490 · confirmed cases 24,324= On the 5th, the National Health Commission of China (NHC) announced that as of midnight, 3,887 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus had been reported in China. The additional deaths numbered 65, all from Hubei Province, the outbreak epicenter. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in China reached 24,324 by this date. Among them, 3,219 are classified as severe cases, and the number of additional deaths is expected to continue rising.

The cumulative death toll stands at 490, and the number of suspected cases is 23,260. The number of close contacts with patients is 252,154, of whom 185,555 are under medical observation. Outside mainland China, confirmed cases in Chinese territories total 39: 18 in Hong Kong (including 1 death), 10 in Macau, and 11 in Taiwan.

Overall, the trend shows a decrease in additional suspected cases, and the increase in patients who have recovered and been discharged is interpreted as an encouraging sign.

On this day, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency called it "good news," highlighting that the number of new suspected cases has decreased for two consecutive days. The number of suspected cases increased by 5,173 on the 2nd, but then decreased to 5,072 on the 3rd and 3,971 on the 4th.

So far, a total of 892 patients have recovered and been discharged, and the difference between the number of recovered and deceased patients has exceeded 400, which is also encouraging. As of the 31st of last month, the number of deaths exceeded the number of discharges, but from this month onward, the number of discharges has surpassed deaths, and the gap is widening.

◆All-out effort for patient treatment... Treatment drugs show 'green light' and medical conditions 'improving'= On the 5th, Global Times reported that Chinese officials are prioritizing preventing the spread of the epidemic and treating confirmed patients with mild symptoms to prevent their condition from worsening, thereby reducing the rate of increase in deaths and increasing the number of recovered and discharged patients.

Since President Xi Jinping strongly ordered an all-out effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus on the 3rd, Premier Li Keqiang also chaired a meeting of the epidemic leadership group on the 4th, emphasizing the need to stop the spread of the virus and focus on patient treatment.

Following the 50 first patients admitted and treated at the 1,000-bed Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan the previous day, the 1,300-bed Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan is also in the final stages of construction, with official operation imminent. It is expected to be completed within the day in China.

Separately, Wuhan is building three "container hospitals" with a total of 3,400 beds at stadiums and convention centers. These facilities will accommodate mild cases of the novel coronavirus, discharging patients upon recovery and transferring those whose condition worsens to other designated hospitals. Additionally, 2,000 medical personnel from across China will be dispatched to Wuhan and Hubei Province.

Reports that some drugs are showing treatment effects against the novel coronavirus are interpreted as a green light. Li Lanzhuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a senior expert at the National Health Commission, revealed the latest achievements in treating the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the outbreak site, stating that two antiviral drugs, "Arbidol" and "Darunavir," have shown effective virus suppression.

He explained, "Arbidol is used to treat influenza, and Darunavir is used as a treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Both drugs are recommended to be included in the national treatment plan for the novel coronavirus in Chinese hospitals."

Sun Yanrong, deputy director of the Biological Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, also stated that research and development of treatments and vaccines for the novel coronavirus are underway, with progress being made in new drug development and epidemic control. He said, "Drugs such as Remdesivir, an Ebola treatment, Chloroquine, a malaria treatment, and Favipiravir, an influenza treatment, have been verified for efficacy and are undergoing animal experiments and clinical trials on humans," adding, "Hospitals capable of conducting clinical trials have already been designated."

The Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Military Medical Research Institute of the Academy of Military Sciences, and the Center for Biosafety Mega-Science have verified that Remdesivir and Chloroquine are effective in treating the novel coronavirus and have already notified provincial and municipal governments across China. However, Remdesivir is not yet available on the Chinese market, and there are intellectual property issues, so its future applicability remains uncertain.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.