China’s “first death” in the past 8 months: the confusion and anxiety of the “Reincarnation of the plague” in Hebei | The last 24 hours | udn Global

2021/01/14 24 hour corner

【2020. 1. 14 China】

China’s “first death” in 8 months: the confusion and anxiety of the “reincarnation of the plague” in Hebei

“After 242 days, there has been another death in mainland China! In Hebei … Don’t be nervous!” The COVID-19 epidemic in Hebei province, mainly in Shijiazhuang, China, continues to increase. The Chinese central government also confirmed Thursday: Hebei Province 13 Japan has reported “one new case of death.” This is the first confirmed “epidemic death” in China in the past eight months after May 17, 2020. Despite current front-line notifications in China, there are no news signs that the epidemic is out of control. ; Compared to the number of infections in other countries in the world, the epidemic in Shijiazhuang is only a double-digit “split notification”. However, on the two front lines, mainly in Hebei and Heilongjiang, the increase in cases still continues. The death report, which was broadcast 8 months later, was even before the anniversary of the Wuhan closure (the official ordered the media to “refrain from reviewing the reports”). ) The “2020 Wuhan Memories” that instantly evoked Chinese public opinion. Various confusion and anxiety are also reflected in the spread of fever on social media, but what is the specific situation of death cases? Route of infection and trace of activity? How should the epidemic situation in North and Northeast China be expected? Can you come back this Spring Festival? Chinese officials did not explain.

▎ Summary of previous situation:“Why Shijiazhuang? The Great Rural Divide and the Wartime Epidemic Prevention Status in Hebei, China”

According to data published by the Chinese Health Commission on the 14th, on the 13th a total of 138 new cases of new coronavirus infection were added in China, of which 124 were local cases and 14 imported from abroad. Among local cases, there were 81 cases in Hebei province and 43 cases in Heilongjiang. At the same time, there was a death in Hebei Province. This is a case of death that has occurred again in China since May 17, 2020, 8 months apart.

The focus of the epidemic in China is currently concentrated in Hebei province, especially in Shijiazhuang, an important city as the capital of Hebei province. Since the beginning of January, almost all the cases in Hebei have been registered in Shijiazhuang, most of which are in various rural areas under its jurisdiction. Serious; In the latest confirmed data, 75 out of 81 cases in Hebei alone are in Shijiazhuang, and most of the cases are in Xiaoguozhuang Village and Qianxiguan Village in rural areas of Gaocheng District.

What most surprised Chinese public opinion was the official announcement of “a new death in Hebei.” But the paradox is that since the announcement of the epidemic situation on the 14th until noon, apart from a known death in Hebei, there is no public information about the identity, medical history, infection pattern and footprint of this confirmed case, although ” # 河北 新 死 例 1 例 “The keyword has been on the hot search list on social media such as Weibo and WeChat, but the common question is: So what’s going on? Why are there no more explanations?

Although the epidemic figures published in China have been “relatively slower” compared to other countries where hundreds or thousands of people have been infected at all times, due to the strict prevention and epidemic control imposed by the Chinese government, all provinces and regions, including Wuhan.Basically, the pace of life has recovered in the second half of 2020 and there has been no news of new deaths, which is why the death notification in Hebei now makes Chinese public opinion so reactive.

Under the current lack of transparency and systemic response to the epidemic, much speculation and rumors of public opinion have been unleashed. On the eve of the first anniversary of the Wuhan shutdown, the epidemic situation turned warm again, and the unclear truth of the infection turned eager for the reincarnation of the epidemic as the new year approached.

Recently, the Chinese Internet community often has similar concerns about a pandemic. On the one hand, this anxiety is related to the problems of prevention of the epidemic that are approaching the Spring Festival. On the other hand, it is also due to the real situation of the epidemic since January. There is still a lack of sufficient transparent information. Why are the epidemics in Hebei and Shijiazhuang under “strong prevention” official Control “, but it keeps rising? What are the reasons for the current infection situation in Shijiazhuang? All official explanations seem to have failed to alleviate the concerns of people.

Shijiazhuang, which is considered the key place for the reappearance of the Hebei epidemic, suddenly issued an order on the 11th to carry out the “transfer of rural villagers.” “Remote centralized isolation”. But the order came quite abruptly and there was no way to get the 20,000 people out of the village in the first place. Related Chinese reports, including “CCTV”, also noted that the official did not specify where to “relocate”, only one car was seen. Another bus took the villagers away. Although the scenes of the mobilization and boarding were posted on the Internet, there are still some unexplained questions behind the atmosphere of “national emergency mobilization to combat the epidemic.”

At the same time, many media outlets began to question the nucleic acid test in the rural areas of Shijiazhuang. Beijing News noted that since Hebei announced the relevant epidemic and traces of reconciled cases, many confirmed patients could be found. Several nucleic acid tests have been done in a short period of time, and all were negative before suddenly turning positive. Therefore, I doubt that the nucleic acid tests performed locally in Hebei are true. Are all these false negative cases without follow-up?

Currently, Hebei Province has implemented “closed management” of external traffic blockades in many cities in the province. Shijiazhuang is now also a key area for disinfection and research. On the 13th, a fifth round of 5,437 rural villagers began in Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang. Nucleic acid amplification test.

“The first anniversary of the closure of Wuhan … does everything seem to go back to the past?” January 23 is about to usher in the first anniversary of the Wuhan closure. Although Chinese officials have tried to promote the national theme of “Victory against the epidemic,” they are confronting Wuhan. The reaction of the anniversary unexpectedly became discreet, and the news spread through the official media expressed that it is necessary to avoid reminding the public of the original situation of the epidemic, especially the “Whistleblower”, the “First Anniversary”, the “Anniversary of Wuhan “and other meetings. It has become a recent sensitive word, and related reports will also be “downplayed” under pressure from state media.

However, the current epidemic situation and the fact that it is difficult to understand the current situation of the epidemic situation in several provinces are very similar to the opacity that recalls the beginning of the epidemic in China a year ago. Additionally, the Spring Festival Transportation will begin on January 28. Shouldn’t it be a large-scale long-distance trip home for the New Year? Or implement epidemic prevention to celebrate the New Year on the spot? It is the collective anxiety in China on the eve of the current year.