February 4, 2020 coronavirus news

Chinese President Xi Jinping in Macau on December 18, 2019. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images Speaking to top officials tasked with fighting the Wuhan coronavirus Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the “outcome of the epidemic prevention and control directly affects people’s lives and health, the overall economic and social stability and the country’s opening-up.” While much of Xi’s speech was dedicated to promoting a centralized, coordinated approach to tackling the deadly epidemic, he also hinted at some problems which are believed to have led to the virus’s spread across China and the world. Xi called for “resolute opposition against bureaucratism and the practice of formalities for formalities’ sake in the prevention work.” His comments may be a reference to statements made by some Wuhan officials that they did not report the virus earlier as they needed to request permission from the central government in order to do so. “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 concluded, according to state media. A “Patriotic Hygiene Campaign” was launched, and officials vowed to enforce tighter regulations on the trade in civet cats – which were blamed for spreading SARS – and other wild meat.