China Reports 722 Deaths from Novel Coronavirus... Confirmed Cases Continue to Rise (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park] The number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus infection in China increased by 86 in one day, bringing the total death toll to 722 so far. The number of newly confirmed cases, which had temporarily slowed down, has returned to an upward trend, revealing that controlling the novel coronavirus remains a difficult situation.

◆ 86 deaths in one day... cumulative deaths 722, confirmed cases 34,546= According to the announcement by the National Health Commission of China (NHC) on the 8th at midnight, 3,399 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus were added nationwide. Among them, 2,841 new confirmed cases were reported in Hubei Province, where Wuhan City, the epicenter of the outbreak, is located.

For five consecutive days since the 3rd, more than 3,000 new confirmed cases have been added daily. The number of newly confirmed cases, which had recently slowed down, has returned to an upward trend.

The newly added number of deaths is 86, the highest daily death toll recorded since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The range of areas with coronavirus-related deaths is expanding to the extent that additional deaths have been reported in Beijing, the capital of China. In one day, 81 people died in Hubei Province alone, with additional deaths reported in Heilongjiang Province (2), Beijing (1), Henan Province (1), and Gansu Province (1).

As of midnight on the day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 34,546. Among them, 31,774 people are currently confirmed and receiving treatment. Since 6,101 are severe cases, the number of additional deaths is expected to continue to rise. The cumulative death toll is 722.

Although 2,050 people have recovered and been discharged, 27,657 are classified as suspected cases, so the number of confirmed cases is also expected to continue increasing. The number of close contacts of patients has been counted at 345,498, of which 189,660 are currently under medical observation.

Outside mainland China, in the Greater China region, a total of 52 confirmed cases have been reported: 26 in Hong Kong (including 1 death), 10 in Macau (including 1 discharged), and 16 in Taiwan (including 1 discharged).

◆ Tension ahead of the resumption of China's economic activities on the 10th after 'all-stop'= Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, economic activities in China, which were virtually at a standstill, are scheduled to fully resume from the 10th.

While controlling population movement is essential to prevent the spread of the epidemic, the final wave of Chinese people returning to daily life is expected to continue from this weekend, deepening the dilemma of the Chinese leadership to catch both the 'two rabbits' of economic recovery and epidemic prevention.

With confirmed cases nearing 35,000 nationwide two months after the outbreak, factories will inevitably gather people at workplaces once they resume operations on a large scale. From the government's perspective, which has expanded full city lockdown measures not only in Wuhan City but also to other cities in Hubei Province and neighboring Zhejiang Province, and is implementing strong policies such as 'stay-at-home orders' to suppress population movement throughout cities, there is no way to avoid concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. However, it is also impossible to indefinitely delay the resumption of operations. There is the task of quickly resolving the disrupted supply of goods caused by the halted economy.

This weekend, Chinese people will begin moving from their hometowns to major cities to return to daily life.

China Railway authorities expect that between the 8th and 11th, an average of 2 to 3 million people per day will use the railway to travel between regions. Due to the dispersed end period of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak, this is only about 25% of the number of railway passengers recorded during previous Lunar New Year holidays. However, the fact that many people are moving while the novel coronavirus spread remains uncontrolled is a source of tension for the Chinese leadership. To prevent mass infections, railway authorities have strengthened disinfection inside trains during this period and reduced the number of available seats to half the usual amount so that passengers can sit apart from each other. Chinese aviation authorities have also halved the number of domestic flights and limited seat occupancy to 45%.

◆ The U.S. is also closely monitoring the trend of the novel coronavirus spread in China= U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged views on the spread of the novel coronavirus infection during a phone call.

According to Xinhua News Agency, during the call on the 7th, President Xi told President Trump, "Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the Chinese government and people have been fighting with all their might," and "Currently, prevention and control of the novel coronavirus is at a very critical stage. Both China and the U.S. should maintain communication and strengthen cooperation to jointly overcome this virus." In response, President Trump said, "The U.S. supports China in fighting the novel coronavirus," and "We want to send experts to China and support China in various ways."

The U.S. Federal Reserve on the 7th (U.S. time) assessed the novel coronavirus outbreak as a new risk to the U.S. economic outlook. Due to the size of the Chinese economy, China's significant difficulties could spread to the U.S. and global markets through reduced risk appetite, dollar appreciation, and trade contraction, stating, "The impact of the novel coronavirus in China has emerged as a new risk to the economic outlook."

U.S. companies are also anxious about the spread of the novel coronavirus.

U.S. company Apple initially announced it would close all 42 stores, offices, and customer centers in mainland China until the 9th, but recent signs indicate the closure period is being extended. Bloomberg News reported that an investigation of Apple's China retail website showed that most stores plan to remain closed until February 15. Some stores have announced reopening around the 13th or 14th, but Bloomberg added that the situation remains fluid.

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