Beijing, Feb 3: The first batch of patients arrived on Monday at a specialised hospital built in just 10 days as part of China's intensive efforts to fight a new virus.
Huoshenshan Hospital and a second facility with 1,500 beds that's 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.
The Wuhan treatment centres mark the second time Chinese leaders have responded to a new disease by building specialised hospitals almost overnight. As 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 Huoshenshan Hospital at 10 am on Monday, according to state media. The reports gave no details of the patients' identities or conditions.
The ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army, sent 1,400 doctors, nurses and other personnel to staff the Wuhan hospital, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The government said earlier some have experience fighting SARS and other outbreaks.
Authorities have cut most road, rail and air access to Wuhan and surrounding cities, isolating some 50 million people, in efforts to contain the viral outbreak that has sickened more than 17,000 and killed more than 360 people.
The Huoshenshan Hospital was built by a 7,000-member crew of carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other specialists, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Photos in state media showed workers in winter clothing, safety helmets and the surgical-style masks worn by millions of Chinese in an attempt to avoid contracting the virus.
About half of the two-storey, 600,000-square-foot building is isolation wards, according to the government newspaper Yangtze Daily. It has 30 intensive care units.
Doctors can talk with outside experts over a video system that links them to Beijing's PLA General Hospital, according to the Yangtze Daily. It said the system was installed in less than 12 hours by a 20-member "commando team" from Wuhan Telecom Ltd.
The building has specialised ventilation systems and double-sided cabinets that connect patient rooms to hallways and allow hospital staff to deliver supplies without entering the rooms.
The hospital received a donation of "medical robots" from a Chinese company for use in delivering medicines and carrying test samples, according to the Shanghai newspaper The Paper.
In other cities, the government has designated hospitals to handle cases of the new virus.
In Beijing, the Xiaotangshan Hospital built in 2003 for SARS is being renovated by construction workers. The government has yet to say whether it might be used for patients with the new disease.
Comments
Sngha parivar sarkar and Corporate pulled India 10 years back and Looting India by increasing price for oil, gas and other products, neglecting farmers, unorganised sectors, drop in GDP, high cost living, middle class people dropped thier status to poor category, no planning comision, no pancha warshika yogana.....
for common people India became hell and totally frustrated. Rulers are wwasting time to divide india in the name of religion instead of working on developments. Uneducated and stupid personality like him ruling India including burocrates. qualification is not a eligibility to rule in India. Only hate mongers are selected for all the positions. We cannot blame them as the great fools are Peoples of India repeatedly electing hate mongers. will dream "acche din ayega" jai hind
Who he is "BASTURD" chopping finger; if it is against "Stupid modi"
Cheddi sandesh spotted..!
Well said mr. Nityanand Rai. Unculture Indian people dont know how to respect our hon. PM
I am rising my middle finger against Modi. Fool. Chop my finger
If you talk againts INDIAN constituiton ready to face the worst or public may drag you from the position.
Modi is the PM elected represnetative not a God. World has seen several dictators and thier worst end.
So suggest not to jump.
All the comments all we hear is the man agenda and advise from Nagpur else who will talk such anti INDIA slogans.
The more U bring people to do EVIL , the more, RSS will reward the bow bow leaders. and a fact done with the devils to destroy the young hindu generation to do evil in the society.
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