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The coronavirus epidemic that has killed over 2,400 people is communist China’s “largest public health emergency” since its founding in 1949, said President Xi Jinping in report by news agency AFP.
It is necessary to learn from “obvious shortcomings exposed” Xi added at an official meeting to coordinate the virus fight — a rare acknowledgment by a Chinese leader.
In comments reported by state broadcaster CCTV, Xi said the epidemic “has the fastest transmission, the widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control”. “This is a crisis for us and it is a big test,” he said.
His comments come as the number of virus infections hit almost 77,000 in mainland China — with countries such as South Korea on high alert and Italy taking containment measures as well.
Xi acknowledged that the epidemic will “inevitably have a large impact on the economy and society”, but he stressed the effects will be “short-term” and controllable.
