• Chongqing's first patient diagnosed with 2019-nCoV was cured and discharged
• 147 confirmed cases of pneumonia were caused by the novel coronavirus in Chongqing as of 24:00 January 28, 15 in serious conditions and four in critical condition
• Chongqing contains suspected patients' medical expenses into medical insurance reimbursement and has allocated RMB 450 million into the 2019-nCoV prevention and control funds
• 5,974 confirmed coronavirus cases on were the Chinese mainland as of January 28 at midnight; 1,239 serious cases and 132 deaths on the Chinese mainland; 103 cases cured and discharged from the hospital.
• The novel coronavirus outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around ten days, renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said Tuesday.

Chongqing - Chongqing Municipal Health Commission announced January 29 morning that 147 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including 15 in serious condition, and four in critical condition had been reported in Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality by the end of January 28.

At 10:11 on January 29, after careful diagnosis and treatment by medical staff, a patient with pneumonitis confirmed by a new type of coronavirus in Wanzhou Three Gorges Central Hospital is in good condition and meets discharge standards. She was discharged at about 10 am on the same day. This is also the first pneumonia patient in Chongqing to be cured of 2019-nCoV.

The municipal health authority also announced from 0:00 to 24:00, January 27, four in critical condition. Yuzhong District reported the first confirmed cases. Among newly confirmed cases, two in Wanzhou District, one in Yuzhong District, one in Jiangbei District, one in Hechuan District, one in Qijiang District, one in Bishan District, two in Kaizhou District, two in Zhong County, one in Yunyang County, one in Fengjie County, one in Shizhu County.

Until now, 2,462 people who had close contact with the patients in Chongqing have been traced, 103 of them were released from medical observation, and 2,359 people still under medical observation.

The latest on 2019-nCoV: 5,974 confirmed coronavirus cases on were the Chinese mainland as of January 28 at midnight; 1,239 serious cases and 132 deaths on the Chinese mainland; 103 cases cured and discharged from the hospital.

The novel coronavirus outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around ten days, renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said Tuesday. "It is very difficult to definitely estimate when the outbreak reaches its peak. But I think in one week or about ten days, it will reach the climax, and then there will be no large-scale increases," Zhong said.

suspected patients' medical expenses are covered by medical insurance

Chongqing Medical Security Bureau, the Chongqing Finance Bureau, and Chongqing Municipal Health Commission issued the Supplementary Notice on Improving Medical Protection for Pneumonia Epidemic of New Coronavirus Infection, which will contain suspected patients' medical expenses into medical insurance reimbursement. Meanwhile, for suspected patients or confirmed patients, who are not insured, they can also use the policy immediately after getting the insurance.

To strengthen Chongqing's prevention and control of 2019-nCoV, effectively reduce the gathering of people, block the spread of 2019-nCoV, and better protect the people's lives and health, the resumption of work and production of various enterprises in the administrative area of Chongqing shall not be earlier than 24:00 on February 9, 2020. Industries related to necessary for citizen life and city operation (such as water supply, gas supply, power supply, communication, supermarkets, farmers' markets, etc.), industries necessary for epidemic prevention and control (production and sales of medical devices, drugs, protective products, etc.) and other work that needs to resume are not included. The employer shall protect the legitimate rights and benefits of employees in accordance with the law.

According to the Chongqing Finance Bureau, Chongqing has put RMB 450 million as the 2019-nCoV prevention and control funds. In order to ensure the timely functioning of funds, the Chongqing Finance Bureau has established an emergency mechanism for epidemic prevention and control, including advance allocation of funds and procurement of materials. For example, in order to enable medical institutions to use the money in a timely manner, Chongqing Finance Bureau has established emergency funding platforms with the People's Bank of China and financial institutions to solve the problem of inability to allocate funds during the holiday season. Meanwhile, Chongqing opens special procurement channels, as long as the procurement of urgently needed goods, engineering, and service for 2019-nCoV prevention and control, each department and company, can organize acquisition by themselves.

---

---

Xi voices full confidence in winning the battle against novel coronavirus

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus.

Meeting with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said the safety of people's lives and their health always come first, and thus the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak is the country's most important work for now.

The WHO is welcome to participate in the epidemic prevention and control, Xi said, stressing that China is ready to work with the WHO as well as the international community to safeguard regional and global public health security.