WHO Praises Wuhan Lockdown Strategy as Effective... Controversy Over Commending China

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Bruce Aylward, WHO Deputy Director-General leading the World Health Organization (WHO) investigation team in China, praised China's lockdown strategy in Wuhan, Hubei Province, as effective in reducing the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and said other countries should follow China's example.

According to foreign media including Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), on the 24th, Deputy Director-General Aylward said at a joint briefing with China's National Health Commission in Beijing, "I understand that people are questioning the credibility while looking at the figures, but it is true that confirmed COVID-19 cases in China have decreased by about 80%," adding, "The Wuhan lockdown is one of the oldest strategies in disease control, and other countries should learn from China's experience."

The number of new confirmed cases across mainland China surged to 15,152 on the 12th but dropped below 1,000 from the 19th. As of midnight on the 25th, China's National Health Commission announced 508 new confirmed cases and 71 new deaths nationwide. The cumulative confirmed cases have risen to 77,658, and cumulative deaths have increased to 2,663.

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