The US Offers Help as China Struggles to Contain Deadly Coronavirus
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will ‘inspect and direct’ efforts to control the outbreak and promised reinforcements, state media has informed, as the provincial authorities are facing criticism from the public for failing to respond in time.
The US President Donald Trump has offered to help China as the country is struggling hard to control coronavirus outbreak in the central city of Wuhan that has killed 81 people and left tens of millions stranded during the biggest holiday season of the year. Trump said he could provide, “any help that is necessary”.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will ‘inspect and direct’ efforts to control the outbreak and promised reinforcements, state media has informed, as the provincial authorities are facing criticism from the public for failing to respond in time.
In the last two weeks, world shares also slipped to its lowest, as worries grew about the economic impact of the virus as China, which is the world’s second-biggest economy has ramped up travel bans.
Donald Trump, who has waged an 18-month trade blockade with Beijing said in a tweet, “We are in very close communication with China concerning the virus”. He also added, “Very few cases reported in USA, but strongly on watch. We have offered China and President Xi (Jinping) any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary!”
The last one week witnessed, Asian and European shares tumbling, with Japan’s Nikkei average sliding 2%, which is its biggest one-day fall in the last five months. Demand has spiked for safe-haven assets such as the Japanese yen and Treasury notes. European stocks fell by more than 2%.
Investors are also worried about the impact of this crisis on travel, tourism and broader economic activity. It is believed that the economic output will be a hit as Chinese authorities are imposing travel restrictions and any other movement thereby extending the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday by three days, when millions of people generally, travel by rail, road and plane, in order to limit the spread of the virus.
Health authorities have confirmed on Monday, the first coronavirus death in the capital Beijing. So far 106 people have succumbed to China because of the deadly coronavirus.
Li Keqiang, who visited Wuhan recently has said, “He required efforts to guarantee medical resources supply, race against time to treat patients and ensure adequate market supply and stable prices”. He also assured 2,500 additional medical workers are going to arrive in the next two days.
Meanwhile, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had arrived in China and is meeting officials to find out a solution to counter this deadly virus.