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The corona virus in China is becoming a danger - also for the Communist Party. It practices perseverance slogans. But the trust of the population is waning.
Li Keqiang also wears a face mask today, as can be seen on the images of the Chinese state media. He calls to the bystanders: "Let's go, Wuhan!" Li puts his right hand in the air. The Chinese head of government met with doctors and government officials in Wuhan today. The short online video is intended to demonstrate the determination of the communist leadership in the fight against the virus.
Anger is growing in social networks
But completely different videos are also being massively shared on social media networks these days. For example, one on which a 40-year-old man can be seen, standing at a hospital counter and completely freaking out. The scene is said to have been filmed in a clinic in Wuhan.
Two rescue workers in protective clothing wait in front of an apartment block in Wuhan. | Image source: AP
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The man apparently fears that he has contracted the new corona virus. He asks for an appointment with a hospital doctor, he wants to register at the reception desk, but the four nurses behind the desk send him away: no more beds in the hospital, they say, no doctor is available.
What makes the scene even more dramatic: while the man looking for help only wears a simple face mask, the hospital staff are wearing spooky white high-security full-body suits. It is difficult to say exactly when and where videos like this one were made, but one thing is clear: in the fight against the virus, everything in China is far from being as well organized as is conveyed by the state media.
Criticism undesirable - especially in times of crisis
A mid-20s describes his impressions particularly impressively. He comes from Wuhan, he tells the camera. In a ten-minute video, he talks about the experiences and thoughts of the past few days. "If you want to go to the hospital to be tested for the virus: no chance, chaos. You have to wait in line for hours until you get it."
The anonymous narrator hid his face behind a face mask; probably not only for medical reasons, but also in order not to get any trouble from the Chinese authorities because of his very clear words.
Virus fear in the giant empire
China is taking radical measures to fight the virus. The number of deaths has meanwhile increased to at least 80 more
"Why on earth did the authorities responsible tell us earlier how dangerous the virus is and that we should wear a mask?" He asks. The responsible politicians should have been released long ago.
Beijing getting nervous?
These and other videos on the virus crisis are only small insights and isolated cases. But they show how distraught and angry many people in China are these days. The state and party leadership in Beijing should make this nervous. Nothing fears her more than losing control over the sovereignty of interpretation in the virus crisis. Anything that could jeopardize social stability and the Communist Party's claim to omnipotence is dangerous for the leadership in Beijing. Especially in a crisis like these days.
China virus: Premier Li in Wuhan, holiday week extended
Steffen Wurzel (SWR, Shanghai)
01/27/2020 12:29 p.m.
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B5 currently reported on this topic on January 27, 2020 at 9:02 a.m.
