Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus began in Wuhan in Dec. 2019, China has mobilized the power of the whole country. Now, epidemic (疫情) control and prevention efforts are starting to take effect.
According to a key meeting held on Feb. 21, the spread of the epidemic is being contained. On Feb. 24, mainland areas outside of Hubei reported nine new infections, the first single— digit increase in weeks, according to the National Health Commission.
Vaccine (疫苗) development is also progressing. Some vaccines have been tested on animals, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. "If vaccine development is compared to building a house, we have laid the foundation and the building is starting to emerge from the ground," Zeng Yixin, the director of the National Health Commission, said to China Daily.
However, the turning point of the epidemic is yet to come. After millions of people return to work in major cities, the number of new infections should be kept low for two weeks. This is expected to be a turning point in China, according to the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. But the situation in Hubei is still serious.
The situation outside of China is concerning. As of 4 p. m. on Feb. 27, the total number of confirmed infections in South Korea had risen to 1,766, Xinhua reported. Italy had reported 470 confirmed cases as of Feb. 26, as well as 12 deaths. Singapore, Japan and Iran have also found cases.
"The window of opportunity (the best time to contain the outbreak) may be closing," said WHO Director—General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He called on the international community to act quickly to control the epidemic before the window closes completely.
