Hospital Director in Wuhan, 51, Dies of the Coronavirus

Director of the Wuchang hospital in Wuhan, Liu Zhiming, died of the novel coronavirus – according to a statement released by local government authorities. Liu was 51 years old.

CNN reported that Liu was a neurosurgeon and the most senior health worker known to have died as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. His death could spark criticism that the government has not done enough to protect front-line medical workers.

According to state media, doctors and nurses who die while trying to contain the outbreak will officially be designated as “martyrs.” The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said Liu made “important contributions in the work of fighting and controlling” the virus, known as COVID-19. “Unfortunately he became infected and passed away at 10:54 Tuesday morning after all-out efforts to save him failed,” the commission said.

“Since the outbreak, Comrade Liu Zhiming, regardless of his personal safety, led the medical staff of Wuchang Hospital to fight the epidemic, and made important contributions to the prevention and control of new-type coronavirus pneumonia in our city,” the commission said in a statement.

USA Today reported that “his death was one of 98 on Tuesday attributed to the virus, pushing the global death toll to 1,875, including 1,789 in Hubei. All but a handful of global virus-related deaths have been in mainland China.”