UAE

Life and Living

World

Opinion

Business

Sports

Entertainment

Dubai World Cup

lifestyle

Travel

Reviews

Brands

Supplements

KT Events

KT APPDOWNLOAD

Covid-19: China mourns thousands who died in country's coronavirus epidemic

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents
China, Qingming, National Health Commission, coronavirus, Covid-19
People wearing face masks stand on the street to pay tribute as China holds national mourning for those who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), on the Qingming tomb-sweeping festival, in Beijing April 4, 2020.

Beijing - The national flag is flying at half mast throughout the country and all forms of entertainment are suspended.

By Reuters

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sat 4 Apr 2020, 6:23 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2020, 8:30 AM

China declared Saturday a day of mourning for the thousands of "martyrs" who have died in the new coronavirus outbreak, flying the national flag at half mast throughout the country and suspending all forms of entertainment.

The day of mourning coincided with the start of the annual Qingming tomb-sweeping festival, when millions of Chinese families pay respects to their ancestors.
At 10 a.m. (6am UAE) Beijing time, the country was observed three minutes of silence to mourn those who died, including frontline medical workers and doctors. Cars, trains and ships will sound their horns and air raid sirens will wail.
More than 3,300 people in mainland China have died in the epidemic, which first surfaced in the central province of Hubei late last year, according to statistics published by the National Health Commission.
In Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the epicentre of the outbreak, all traffic lights in urban areas will be turned red at 10 a.m. and all road traffic will cease for three minutes. Some 2,567 people have died in the city of 11 million people, accounting for more than 75% of the country's coronavirus fatalities.
As of Friday, the total number of nationally confirmed cases stood at 81,639, including 19 new infections, the National Health Commission said.
Eighteen of the new cases involved travellers arriving from abroad. The remaining one new infection was a local case was in Wuhan, a patient who was previously asymptomatic. 


More news from