China declares ‘people’s war’ against coronavirus

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared a "people's war" against the fast-spreading coronavirus and said the whole nation is working as one to combat it. 

The impact of the virus has been felt around the world with factory floors slowing down, quarantined cruise liners moored in the seas, flights cancelled and whole cities of millions closed down in China.

The official Chinese death toll from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 636, with the government saying total infections had climbed past 31,000.

Seeking to allay global anxiety, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was no need for measures that "unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade" in trying to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Epidemic curve of 2019-nCoV cases (n=216) identified outside of China, by date of reporting and travel history, 6 February 2020. Graph Courtesy: WHO
Epidemic curve of 2019-nCoV cases (n=216) identified outside of China, by date of reporting and travel history, 6 February 2020. Graph Courtesy: WHO

President Xi too sought to prevent global panic by saying that China hopes countries respect and understand the World Health Organization's guidance on travel. Xi added that China's strong mobilisation capacity and rich experience in public health would enable it to beat the coronavirus.

Meanwhile Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered urgent aid to be sent to China to fight coronavirus, after his telephone conversation with President Xi, during which the two discussed efforts to combat and control the novel coronavirus epidemic. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed efforts to combat and control the novel coronavirus epidemic with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud over a phone call. Photo Courtesy: Twitter
Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed efforts to combat and control the novel coronavirus epidemic with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud over a phone call. Photo Courtesy: Twitter

The King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action is to send urgent aid to China in its fight against coronavirus as ordered by King Salman. Earlier UAE had expressed its readiness to support China in the fight against nCoV. 

Xi was reported to have said that China will continue to take an open and transparent approach towards dealing with the virus.