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nCoV MD Whistle-Blower 34M Dies After Three Week Hospitalization In Wuhan


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Dr Li Wenliang, thought to be 34, tried to send a message to fellow medics about the outbreak at the end of December. Three days later police paid him a visit and told him to stop. He returned to work and caught the virus from a patient. He had been in hospital for at least three weeks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51364382

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The Chinese doctor who tried to warn others about coronavirus

By Stephanie HegartyPopulation Correspondent
Dr Li shares a picture of himself in a mask from his hospital bed in Wuhan on FridayImage copyrightWEIBO
Image captionDr Li posted this picture of himself from a hospital bed on 31 January - a day before he was diagnosed with coronavirus

A Chinese doctor hailed as a hero for trying to warn others about coronavirus in the early days of the outbreak has died from the virus, Chinese state media say.

Dr Li Wenliang, thought to be 34, tried to send a message to fellow medics about the outbreak at the end of December. Three days later police paid him a visit and told him to stop. He returned to work and caught the virus from a patient. He had been in hospital for at least three weeks.

He posted his story from his hospital bed last month on social media site Weibo.

"Hello everyone, this is Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital," the post begins.

It was a stunning insight into the botched response by local authorities in Wuhan in the early weeks of the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr Li was working at the centre of the outbreak in December when he noticed seven cases of a virus that he thought looked like Sars - the virus that led to a global epidemic in 2003. The cases were thought to come from the Huanan Seafood market in Wuhan and the patients were in quarantine in his hospital.

On 30 December he sent a message to fellow doctors in a chat group warning them about the outbreak and advising they wear protective clothing to avoid infection.

What Dr Li didn't know then was that the disease that had been discovered was an entirely new coronavirus.

Dr Li's post on WeiboImage copyrightWEIBO
Image captionAfter falling sick, Dr Li said on Weibo that he wondered why authorities were still saying no medical staff had been infected

Four days later he was summoned to the Public Security Bureau where he was told to sign a letter. In the letter he was accused of "making false comments" that had "severely disturbed the social order".

"We solemnly warn you: If you keep being stubborn, with such impertinence, and continue this illegal activity, you will be brought to justice - is that understood?" Underneath in Dr Li's handwriting is written: "Yes, I do."

He was one of eight people who police said were being investigated for "spreading rumours".

At the end of January, Dr Li published a copy of the letter on Weibo and explained what had happened. In the meantime, local authorities had apologised to him but that apology came too late.

For the first few weeks of January officials in Wuhan were insisting that only those who came into contact with infected animals could catch the virus. No guidance was issued to protect doctors.

But just a week after his visit from the police, Dr Li was treating a woman with glaucoma. He didn't know that she had been infected with the new coronavirus.

The letter that Dr Li says police told him to sign saying he made false commentsImage copyrightLI WENLIANG
Image caption"We hope you can calm down and reflect on your behaviour," the letter police told him to sign says
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In his Weibo post he describes how on 10 January he started coughing, the next day he had a fever and two days later he was in hospital. His parents also fell ill and were taken to hospital.

It was 10 days later - on 20 January - that China declared the outbreak an emergency.

Dr Li says he was tested several times for coronavirus, all of them came back negative.

Dr Li WenliangImage copyrightWEIBO
Image captionDr Li Wenliang was accused of spreading rumours
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On 30 January he posted again: "Today nucleic acid testing came back with a positive result, the dust has settled, finally diagnosed."

He punctuated the short post with an emoji of a dog with its eyes rolled back, tongue hanging out.

Not surprisingly the post received thousands of comments and words of support.

"Dr Li Wenliang is a hero," one user said, worrying about what his story says about their country. "In the future, doctors will be more afraid to issue early warnings when they find signs of infectious diseases."

"A safer public health environment… requires tens of millions of Li Wenliang."

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Coronavirus: Hospital denies that Li Wenliang, doctor who alerted public to the outbreak, has died

  • Li, 34, was one of eight doctors who tried to share information about the coronavirus only to be reprimanded by Wuhan police
Cissy Zhou
 
Cissy Zhou

 

 
12876
 
 
Li Wenliang. Photo: via CNNLi Wenliang. Photo: via CNN
Li Wenliang. Photo: via CNN
 

Wuhan Central Hospital has denied that Li Wenliang — one of the eight doctors who tried to alert the public about the coronavirus when it was first emerging in Wuhan only to be reprimanded by local police — has died.

“In the fight against the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, our hospital's ophthalmologist Li Wenliang was unfortunately infected. He is currently in critical condition and we are trying our best to resuscitate him," it said in its official Weibo account.

The hospital’s statement came amid conflicting reports about whether Li had died, with some reports saying that the doctor’s heart had stopped beating and was then given treatment with ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation).

Multiple Chinese media outlets, including Beijing News and Global Times, earlier reported Li’s death, leading to an outpouring of mourning and tribute both on Chinese social media and at health agencies trying to stem the outbreak.

 
 

Li, 34, an ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital, was found to be infected with coronavirus on Saturday.

“We are very sorry to hear the loss of any frontline worker who is committed to care for patients … we should celebrate his life and mourn his death with his colleagues,” said Michael Ryan, director of the World Health Organisation's health emergencies programme, said during a briefing on Thursday.

Chinese social media has been awash with anger over the death of the whistle-blower — some mourning Li’s death with candles, some demanding the authorities apologise for their treament of Li.

“None of the police has ever apologised to you. You could have been a national hero, but the dereliction of duty has claimed your life, along with a few hundred innocent lives,” a user said on Weibo.

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“The reprimand of Doctor Li will be a shame in China’s anti-epidemic history. Doctor Li alerted the public at the expense of his life. Wuhan police station still hasn’t recalled that reprimand notice even after his death,” another Weibo user wrote.

 

On December 30, Li warned his medical school classmates in an online chat group that a Sars-like illness had stricken several patients in a Wuhan hospital and that all of them were quarantined in the emergence department.

The same day that the doctor shared the messages, local health authorities announced that the city had confirmed 27 cases of a new type of virus, most of them linked to a seafood market.

 

However, Li, along with seven other doctors who shared information about the outbreak, was summoned to the local police and forced to sign a letter promising to make no further disclosures concerning the disease.

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Coronavirus: Whistleblower Dr Li Wenliang confirmed dead of the disease at 34, after hours of chaotic messaging from hospital

  • Li, 34, was one of eight doctors who tried to share information about the coronavirus only to be reprimanded by Wuhan police
  • Wuhan Central Hospital initially denied reports he was dead, saying he was in “critical condition”, before finally confirming he had died
Cissy Zhou
 
Cissy Zhou

 

 
16557
 
 
Li Wenliang in his hospital bed. Photo: via CNNLi Wenliang in his hospital bed. Photo: via CNN
Li Wenliang in his hospital bed. Photo: via CNN
 

Li Wenliang – one of the first doctors who tried to alert the public about the coronavirus outbreak, only to be reprimanded by local police – has died, Wuhan Central Hospital confirmed early Friday morning, hours after it initially denied reports of his death.

“In the fight against the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, our hospital's ophthalmologist, Li Wenliang, was unfortunately infected. He passed away after all the efforts we’ve taken to resuscitate him. We deeply mourn his passing,” the hospital said on its official Weibo account.

Li, 34, died at 2.58am on Friday, the hospital added.

The announcement capped several chaotic hours in which Chinese media first reported Li's death, only for the hospital to respond that Li was alive, though in critical condition.

The earlier reports of Li’s death by multiple Chinese outlets, including Beijing News and Global Times, triggered an outpouring of mourning and tribute both on Chinese social media and at health agencies trying to stem the outbreak.

“We are very sorry to hear the loss of any frontline worker who is committed to care for patients … we should celebrate his life and mourn his death with his colleagues,” said Michael Ryan, director of the World Health Organisation's health emergencies programme, said during a briefing on Thursday.

Chinese social media has been awash with anger over the death of the whistle-blower – some mourning Li’s death with candles, some demanding that the authorities apologise for the way they had treated him

“None of the police has ever apologised to you. You could have been a national hero, but the dereliction of duty has claimed your life, along with a few hundred innocent lives,” a user said on Weibo.

Dr Li Wenliang. Photo: Li Wenliang via Weibo
Dr Li Wenliang. Photo: Li Wenliang via Weibo

“The reprimand of Doctor Li will be a shame in China’s anti-epidemic history. Doctor Li alerted the public at the expense of his life. Wuhan police station still hasn’t recalled that reprimand notice even after his death,” another Weibo user wrote.

 
 

On December 30, Li warned his medical school classmates in an online chat group that a Sars-like illness had stricken several patients in a Wuhan hospital and that all of them were quarantined in the emergency department.

The same day that the doctor shared the message, local health authorities announced that the city had confirmed 27 cases of a new type of virus, most of them linked to a seafood market.

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Get updates direct to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

However, Li, along with seven other doctors who shared information about the outbreak, was summoned to the local police and forced to sign a letter promising to make no further disclosures concerning the disease.

On January 1, CCTV, the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, accused the eight doctors in Wuhan for spreading what the government had called “rumours”.

 

“Cyberspace is by no means a lawless frontier, the police has zero tolerance to any illegal acts of fabricating or spreading rumours that disrupt social order,” the broadcaster warned.

 

Coronavirus: Whistleblower Dr Li Wenliang confirmed dead of the disease at 34, after hours of chaotic messaging from hospital

  • Li, 34, was one of eight doctors who tried to share information about the coronavirus only to be reprimanded by Wuhan police
  • Wuhan Central Hospital initially denied reports he was dead, saying he was in “critical condition”, before finally confirming he had died
Cissy Zhou
 
Cissy Zhou

 

 
16557
 
 
Li Wenliang in his hospital bed. Photo: via CNNLi Wenliang in his hospital bed. Photo: via CNN
Li Wenliang in his hospital bed. Photo: via CNN
 

Li Wenliang – one of the first doctors who tried to alert the public about the coronavirus outbreak, only to be reprimanded by local police – has died, Wuhan Central Hospital confirmed early Friday morning, hours after it initially denied reports of his death.

“In the fight against the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, our hospital's ophthalmologist, Li Wenliang, was unfortunately infected. He passed away after all the efforts we’ve taken to resuscitate him. We deeply mourn his passing,” the hospital said on its official Weibo account.

Li, 34, died at 2.58am on Friday, the hospital added.

The announcement capped several chaotic hours in which Chinese media first reported Li's death, only for the hospital to respond that Li was alive, though in critical condition.

The earlier reports of Li’s death by multiple Chinese outlets, including Beijing News and Global Times, triggered an outpouring of mourning and tribute both on Chinese social media and at health agencies trying to stem the outbreak.

“We are very sorry to hear the loss of any frontline worker who is committed to care for patients … we should celebrate his life and mourn his death with his colleagues,” said Michael Ryan, director of the World Health Organisation's health emergencies programme, said during a briefing on Thursday.

Chinese social media has been awash with anger over the death of the whistle-blower – some mourning Li’s death with candles, some demanding that the authorities apologise for the way they had treated him

“None of the police has ever apologised to you. You could have been a national hero, but the dereliction of duty has claimed your life, along with a few hundred innocent lives,” a user said on Weibo.

Dr Li Wenliang. Photo: Li Wenliang via Weibo
Dr Li Wenliang. Photo: Li Wenliang via Weibo

“The reprimand of Doctor Li will be a shame in China’s anti-epidemic history. Doctor Li alerted the public at the expense of his life. Wuhan police station still hasn’t recalled that reprimand notice even after his death,” another Weibo user wrote.

 
 

On December 30, Li warned his medical school classmates in an online chat group that a Sars-like illness had stricken several patients in a Wuhan hospital and that all of them were quarantined in the emergency department.

The same day that the doctor shared the message, local health authorities announced that the city had confirmed 27 cases of a new type of virus, most of them linked to a seafood market.

LUNAR NEWSLETTER
Get updates direct to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

However, Li, along with seven other doctors who shared information about the outbreak, was summoned to the local police and forced to sign a letter promising to make no further disclosures concerning the disease.

On January 1, CCTV, the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, accused the eight doctors in Wuhan for spreading what the government had called “rumours”.

 

“Cyberspace is by no means a lawless frontier, the police has zero tolerance to any illegal acts of fabricating or spreading rumours that disrupt social order,” the broadcaster warned.

In a Weibo post discussing how he broke the news and his interactions with the police, Li said he returned to work on January 3 after the police reprimand – but then started to cough on January 10.
 

“I was feverish on January 11 and was hospitalised the next day. Back then, the government still insisted that there was no human-to-human transmission, and said none of the medical staff had been infected. I was just confused,” Li posted on Weibo on January 31.

Li was found to be infected with the coronavirus on Saturday.

“My virus tests are still negative, but I am having difficulties with breathing, I can barely move. My parents are also hospitalised,” Li said on Weibo a day before he was diagnosed with the infection.

On the same day, he attached the reprimand that he signed on January 3.

The reprimand letter police issued to Li. (Click on photo for larger version.) Photo: Weibo/Li Wenliang
The reprimand letter police issued to Li. (Click on photo for larger version.) Photo: Weibo/Li Wenliang

“We solemnly warn you that if you stick to your guns and remain impenitent, and continue to engage in illegal activities, you will be punished by law,” the Wuhan police wrote in the reprimand.

As of Friday, according to Chinese health authorities, the deadly virus had claimed 563 lives in mainland China, plus another two in Hong Kong and Philippines. The outbreak has infected more than 28,000 in China, far exceeding the 2002-03 Sars epidemic, which killed almost 800 people worldwide.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049411/coronavirus-li-wenliang-doctor-who-alerted-authorities-outbreak

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