99% Of COVID-19 Cases Contained in China

Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak began in late 2019, China says 'it has been taking decisive and unprecedented measures, including locking down cities, to protect public health both domestically and globally.’

And, China is reporting they have contained more than 99 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 cases within its borders, says a China Daily article published on February 16, 2020.

Of the nearly 70 thousand people who have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease outside China accounts for less than 1 percent of the total.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on February 12, 2020, ‘China has certainly taken aggressive actions to try to mitigate the spread of this virus.’

‘As you know, this is a dynamic, rapidly evolving situation, and our response continues to be based on the latest science. We continue to be flexible to meet the public health challenges that the virus presents.’

‘China is doing many good things that are slowing the virus, and the facts speak for themselves,’ concluded Dr. Messonnier during a CDC telebriefing.

The progress is hard-won by all sides and is fully recognized by the international community. So far, more than 160 leaders of foreign governments and international organizations have expressed their support for China, reported this China Daily news article.

The strong measures, though effective in mitigating the spread of the epidemic, will inevitably inflict pain on some parts of the Chinese economy and affect people's daily life.

Restaurants, shopping malls, cinemas, museums, and tourist resorts in China are closed to avoid gatherings, and many factories are challenged by unexpected difficulties in operation due to quarantine arrangements.

To help businesses pull through, the Chinese government at all levels has rolled out supportive measures such as tax and rent deductions, delaying loan payments, cutting interest rates and waiving overdue interest.

Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, said in an interview with Xinhua, "The China government reacted very strongly and correctly.”

Regarding the Chinese government's interactions with the public as the situation unfolds, the expert said authorities have been "open and aggressive and transparent in conveying the sense of concern."

On the economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, Roach said he is "an optimist in the Chinese economy," adding that while the country is expected to experience an economic "shock" in the first half of the year due to the infections, it will be "followed by a rebound, and possibly a sharp rebound, once the virus is under control."

"This is exactly what happened in early 2003 with the SARS outbreak. There was no reason to believe that won't be the case this time as well," Roach concluded.

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak news published by Coronavirus Today