Xi demands prompt action to contain spreading coronavirus, warns disobedience will be punished
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for "prompt and resolute action" in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus, urging strict enforcement of orders and vowing that those who disobey the unified command or shirk off responsibilities will be punished, while government leaders supervising them would also be held accountable, Xinhua news agency reported.
He was making a speech to the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday (February 3) to discuss how to effectively prevent and control the virus.
“The outcome of the epidemic prevention and control directly affects people’s lives and health, overall economic and social stability and the opening up of the country,” he said, while expressing respect to those fighting on the front lines of the battle against the virus.
Xi said that since the start of the outbreak, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the issue and led efforts by all sectors to control the spread of the virus.
Party committees and governments at all levels should firmly follow the unified command, coordination and arrangement of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua quoted Xi as having said.
“The epidemic prevention and control is not only a health issue but comprehensive work which requires all-round support,” Xi said, demanding “resolute opposition against bureaucratism and the practice of formalities … in the prevention work”.
The meeting stressed on giving total attention to the prevention and control of the virus in hard-hit areas.
Hubei province, especially its capital city Wuhan, remains the top priority for the epidemic prevention and control, the meeting added.
It called for strengthening monitoring of the epidemic, gathering patients together for treatment, and conducting home-based medical observation for all close contacts, Xinhua reported.
The meeting also sought all-out efforts to treat patients, ensure the supply of medical protection materials, improve survival rates, and reduce infection, while stressing that scientific research must be stepped up to discover the source and transmission of the novel virus. Additionally, resolute efforts should be made to crack down on illegal wildlife markets and trade to address major public health risks at the root, the meeting decided.
“The outbreak is a major test of China’s system and capacity for governance, and we must sum up the experience and draw a lesson from it,” the meeting added.