Beijing: China on Monday accused the US of spreading u2018 panicu2019 through its actions like travel bans and evacuation of diplomats and said there was no u2018 substantial helpu2019 from Washington to contain the novel Coronavirus ( nCoV) that has killed 361 people and infected 17,205 others.
Joining a growing list of nations to impose travel restrictions, the US has announced a 14- day travel ban on all visitors from China, regardless of their nationality. u201c What the US has done could create and spread panic,u201d Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
u201c The US government has not provided any substantive help yet. On the contrary, it was the first to withdraw its consulate staff from Wuhan, the first to suggest the partial withdrawal of embassy staff, the first to announce a ban on entry by Chinese citizens after the WHO made it clear that it doesnu2019t recommend or even opposes travel and trade restrictions against China,u201d she said. Agencies China accuses US of spreading global u2018 panicu2019 over Coronavirus A deserted street in Beijing on Monday. PIC/ AFP The virus has spread to 25 countries and so far killed 361 people and infected 17,205 others in China u2018 Certain US officialsu2019 words and actions are neither factual nor appropriateu2019 Hua Chunying, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Beijing: The first batch of patients arrived on Monday at a specialised hospital built in just 10 days as part of Chinau2019s intensive efforts to fight nCoV. Huoshenshan Hospital and a second facility with 1,500 beds thatu2019s due to open this week were built by construction crews who are working around the clock in Wuhan, the city in central China where the outbreak was first detected in December. Most of the cityu2019s 11 million people are barred from leaving the area.
The Wuhan treatment centres mark the second time Chinese leaders have responded to a disease by building hospitals almost overnight.
As a severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, spread in 2003, a facility in Beijing for patients with that viral disease was constructed in a week.
The first batch of patients arrived at the hospital at 10 am on Monday, according to state media. The reports gave no details of the patientsu2019 identities or conditions. Agencies Built in just 10 days, Chinau2019s nCoV hospital takes 1st batch of patients Aerial photo of the Huoshenshan Hospital. PIC/ AFP
