PR83886

BEIJING, May 2, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

A news report by Chen Chao and Long Yun from Science and Technology Daily:

"COVID-19 is the biggest crisis the world has faced since World War 2," Mr.

Zhou Weisheng, a Professor from College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan

University said in an interview with Science and Technology Daily.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200430/2791135-1

Dr. Zhou believes that the spread of COVID-19 further proves that we live a

community of shared future for mankind with common benefits and risks. In order

to achieve the goal of maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks,

international cooperation and mutual support are required in both prevention

and control of the pandemic and the protection of the global industrial chain.

China's experience has raised alerts from two aspects for the world

Zhou said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the efforts and spirit of the

Chinese people, such as the spirit of self-sacrifice, perspective of overall

situation and coordinated actions, have shown the strength of the Chinese

people with solidarity, and won a great amount of time for the world to contain

the spread of the COVID-19.

At the same time, Dr. Zhou noted, China has raised alerts from two aspects for

the world from the statistical results.

First, during the battle against COVID-19, China obtained the first-hand

pathological data, which made the world well-informed about the fact that

COVID-19 was spreading around the world extremely quickly; Second, China had to

take the strictest measures to prevent and control the situation through city

lockdown, which has alarmed the world by these bold measures.

China has won the world time to combat COVID-19 with first-hand experience

Viruses know no national borders, and many countries had experienced infectious

disasters in the past. Dr. Zhou also emphasized that China has made

contribution to the world.

The first one is to gain time for the world to prepare for dealing with

COVID-19. Zhou Weisheng's lab is carrying out research on the policy

initiatives of various countries since the beginning of the epidemic. His

research team aims to sum up experience and lessons through quantitative

analysis for better prevention in the future.

Zhou made a detailed introduction on the results of his research that there are

two Modes of outbreak. Mode A (Area A) is the Cruise Ship Mode (such as Diamond

Princess cruise ship, which refers to the rapid outbreak of infection in areas

with high population density). And Mode B (Area B) is the Urban Mode (Wuhan in

China, Italy, etc.). From the statistical analysis, in Mode A, the incubation

period from the detection of the first infected case to the outbreak of

infection is about 7 days. When it comes to Mode B, the incubation period from

the detection of the first infected case to the outbreak of infection is about

30 days. That is to say, it is extremely important to take decisive measures

within one month after the discovery of the first infected case.

According to the World Health Organization's timeline against COVID-19, on

December 31, 2019, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China reported a

cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A novel coronavirus was

eventually identified. And on January 23, 2020, China took a series of decisive

prevention and control measures, which marked by Wuhan lockdown. In the face of

this previously unknown pandemic, China has tried its best to fight against

COVID-19 without any delay.

Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and

Prevention, noted that China reported information to the World Health

Organization regarding the outbreak (January 3). In the same day, China began

to inform the United States about the pneumonia of unknown cause. Starting from

January 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries and

regions about the pneumonia of unknown cause. On January 12, China shared the

genome sequences of the novel coronavirus with WHO and other countries in a

timely manner, Wu also said.

In response to COVID-19, China has promptly released relevant information,

shared experience and promoted international cooperation in an open,

transparent and responsible manner.

Sino-US cooperation is the 'best option' for all

In that urgent scenario, China had no previous experience to draw on and had to

take prevention and control measures with careful trials. However, some

countries could take measures in their own way while referring to China's

experience.

US now has most COVID-19 cases in the world, with more than one million

confirmed cases.

"As the world's largest developed country, the United States should have guided

and supported the world in the effective prevention and control on the basis of

China's experience. Some countries have underestimated the importance of

China's experience in preventing the spread of novel coronavirus," Dr. Zhou

said.

He sincerely hopes that China and the United States could not only fight

against COVID-19 for their own people, but also work together to lead the

world, especially developing countries, out of difficulties and overcome the

catastrophic challenge.

"Determining the origin and route of the infection of novel coronavirus

requires scientific and objective research. The region where the infection

information was firstly publicly disclosed is not necessarily the origin of the

novel coronavirus. Because it is possible that other affected areas have not

been announced or the patients in these areas have been treated for other

diseases such as influenza. Searching the origin of novel coronavirus should be

supported by solid scientific evidence and intensive research. Every country in

the world shares the same responsibility," Dr. Zhou Weisheng emphasized in the

end.

Source: Science and Technology Daily

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Caption: Mr. Zhou Weisheng, a Professor from College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan

University