by Fatima Javed

ISLAMABAD, Mar. 3 (China Economic Net) - Research and analysis of genomic data from 93 samples of the novel coronavirus shows that the virus was not originated in Wuhan’s sea food market,  it was rather imported from somewhere else and the busy market then increased its circulation and spread it to the whole city. According to the team of Chinese scientists the coronavirus was introduced from outside the market.

The research further says that based on the genome data it was possible that the virus began spreading from person to person even as early as late November. Moreover several countries discovered that they already had community spread of the virus, as opposed to cases only in travelers from affected areas or people who were in direct contact with them.

Cases have now been confirmed in 73 more countries apart from China alarming public health authorities across the world. On a positive side thousands of people affected by the coronavirus globally have already been recovered. As COVID-19 is a viral illness, antibiotics therefore are of no use and neither are antiviral drugs that work against flu. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system and many of those who have died were already in poor health.

Chinese hospitals overflowing with COVID-19 patients a few weeks ago now have empty beds. At a media briefing, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that China reported the lowest number of cases on 2nd March since 22nd January. However, the number of cases outside China surged nearly nine times compared to reports inside the country.

China’s approach towards the epidemic control has been ambitious, agile and aggressive. Which has helped the country to control the epidemic in the shortest period possible. On 28th  February,  the World Health Organization (WHO) organized a mission in which the Chinese government allowed 13 foreigners to join 12 Chinese scientists on a tour of five cities in China to study the state of the COVID-19 epidemic and the effectiveness of the country’s response. The findings surprised several of the visiting scientists.

According to the report, China achieved what many public health experts thought was impossible: containing the spread of a widely circulating respiratory virus. “China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile, and aggressive disease containment effort in history.” The report mentions.

The joint mission was highly productive and gave a unique insight into China’s efforts to stem the virus from spread within mainland China and globally. “China’s bold approach to contain the rapid spread of this new respiratory pathogen has changed the course of a rapidly escalating and deadly epidemic, “This decline in COVID-19 cases across China is real.”

The report further added that Achieving China’s exceptional coverage with and adherence to these containment measures has only been possible due to the deep commitment of the Chinese people to collective action in the face of this common threat. At a community level and at the individual level the Chinese people have reacted to this outbreak with courage and conviction. Despite ongoing outbreaks in their own areas, thousands of health care workers and tons of vital PPE supplies have continued to be sent to Hubei province and Wuhan city.

Therefore, countries can take lessons from China’s handling of the COVID-19.The question now is whether the world is ready to take lessons from China’s success, and whether the massive lockdowns and electronic surveillance measures imposed by the Chinese government would work in other countries. China’s success so far should give other countries confidence that they can also get a jump on COVID-19.