On Monday February 10, the global death toll from the coronavirus surpassed 1,000. Health workers worldwide are tirelessly striving to contain the flu-like virus ever since it originated in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei.
The National Health Commission of China reported that the total number of deaths on the mainland had reached 1,016 by midnight on Monday, with 2,478 new cases of infection confirmed, bringing the total to 42,638.
Following the situation, two senior health officials, Zhang Jin, the party secretary of the health commission for Hubei, and Ling Yingzi, director of the Hubei Provincial Health Commission, have been removed from their positions as confirmed by state media on Tuesday, February 11.
The decision to dismiss the health officials came after Chinese President, Xi Jinping’s visit to health facilities in Beijing. Additionally, Hong Kong and the Philippines have each reported one death linked to the virus.
In a significant move, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a health emergency of “international concern” last month.
Several countries, including the U.S, Philippines, Japan, and Australia, have imposed temporary travel restrictions in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
China has deployed 20,000 medical personnel to Wuhan, with more health workers on their way. In a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, a group of leaders pledged to address raw material and labor shortages and bolster supplies of masks and protective clothing in the fight against the virus.