Doctor Who Sounded the Alarm on Coronavirus in Wuhan Dies at 34

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A Chinese doctor who was initially sanctioned for warning about the deadly Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in early January has died, stoking fresh anger online at the Communist Party-led government. #ChinaVirus #Coronavirus #CoronavirusOutbreak #WHO #LiWenliang

For hours, the status of the doctor, Li Wenliang, had been unclear after earlier reports of his death on Chinese social media were deleted and replaced by messages saying he was being treated. Around 3 a.m. Beijing time, Wuhan Central Hospital said that Li was dead “after all efforts to save him failed.”

“Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at our hospital, had unfortunately been infected when he worked on fighting against the coronavirus outbreak,” the hospital said on the Chinese social platform Weibo. He was 34, according to reports in Chinese media.

The Wuhan doctor became well-known after he made a December social media post warning about a SARS-like illness. In the weeks that followed, the virus exploded into the epidemic that has sickened more than 25,000, halted travel across parts of China, and led to the mass quarantine of Wuhan, a city of more than 10 million.

But days after Li’s warning on social media, he was reprimanded by police for rumor-mongering online, according to his social media account. He later announced via social media that he had been infected with coronavirus.

Li’s warning, and the police reprimand, have raised questions within China about whether Communist Party authorities could have done more earlier to stop the spread of the infection. His final hours sparked a confusing episode that only reinforced the narrative that Chinese officials were more concerned about stage-managing the message rather than giving transparent updates about developments related to the virus.

The doctor’s death was announced on social media by a Chinese state media-affiliated publication, only to see the posts deleted and replaced by reports that he was still alive. Then hours later he was finally reported dead again by the hospital where he worked.

Chinese netizens accused government authorities of hiding the truth by conjuring up a fake miracle that Li was still alive. The hashtag “I Want Freedom of Speech” picked up amid public anger while these posts were being constantly censored and deleted on Weibo.

Many also typed out the first line of the Chinese national anthem -- “Arise! All those who don’t want to be slaves!” -- and shared the song “Do You Hear the People Sing,” from “Les Miserables,” a musical about people who have taken to the streets to protest against tyranny.

Li Yuchen, an individual blogger who wrote a widely shared piece chronocling Li’s experience, was invited to have a conversation with the police, which he said lasted for 8 hours. According to his account of the experience posted on Chinese messaging service WeChat, police asked him “Do you love your country?”

The drama started to unfold at around 9:30 p.m. Thursday night, when a verified neurosurgical doctor at Wuhan Union Hospital first revealed Li’s passing on Weibo in a now-deleted post.

At around 10 p.m. local time, state-run media outlets received a notice to strictly regulate coverage of Li’s condition, avoid issuing alerts and refrain from any commentary, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Global Times, which is affiliated with the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, posted at 10:44 p.m. Thursday that Li had died. “Global Times’ reporters learned from several sources that Wuhan Central Hospital’s Dr. Li Wenliang died of pneumonia infected by the novel coronavirus tonight,” the outlet said in a post accompanied by a somber image of candles.

Bloomberg News also reported Li’s death, citing a person familiar with the matter and Chinese media.

Roughly an hour after the Global Times’s initial report, the post was deleted from two of its Weibo accounts. Another message mourning the doctor by Hu Xijin, the Global Times’s editor-in-chief, was also removed.

Li’s death rapidly became a trending topic on the Chinese social-media platform Weibo around midnight local time, with the hashtags #DoctorLiPassedAway and #LiWenliangPassedAway attracting hundreds of millions of views.

Around 1 a.m. Beijing time, Hu from the Global Times suggested Li was alive and efforts were being made to save him.

“We wish a miracle of life could happen,” Hu said in a new post.

The hospital said Li died at 2:58 a.m. Beijing time, or 1:58 p.m. in New York.

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He even went as far as staying in a hotel as to not infect his wife and unborn child.. man what a way to go.

MMOByte
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Dr. Li Wenliang should be remembered. He warned the world and put himself in harm's way to do so. May you rest in peace Dr.Li Wenliang.

Mojo
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It would have been nice to mention his name....

chocolatechip
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He is a true hero. He should never be forgotten.

jinq
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This man died doing all he did, and y'all couldn't even get a full 60 seconds of footage to honor him before you had to pump this out for views

overspeed
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You spent more time asking for a subscribe at the end than you spent reporting.

Someonerandom
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That man gets arrested for telling the truth about this virus then him being a doctor helping gets treated like garbage by his own government then he dies from the very thing he tried protecting the world from that's beyond horrible

humanityinterrupted
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Can’t believe it. A real hero who's trying to save the world. All the weibo users waiting for Li's good news last night. A night without sleep. Wish all the best to his families, especially his wife who's pregnant and also fighting with the coronavirus now. A hero should be remember forever!

geraldinecharles
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R.I.P a great man who cared more about saving the people of his nation then his own health. He knew how bad things were about to get and still went to work. A true hero if ever there was one and someone future doctors get to look up to.

schwarzwald
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If it wasn't for this doctor NOBODY would know about this deadly virus. May he always be remembered

youserious
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Dr. Li Wenliang stood by his oath when he practice medicine. He pledge to save lives and died doing so! Honor him with respect and a Hero. May you rest in peace and May you never be forgotten Dr. Li Wenliang

denoc
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That man is an international hero of 2020, i don't care what you say

GESuch
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as a chinese citizen im outraged at the fact that 8 people that tried to warn the country abt the virus 20 days befr the gov did and they got labeled as frauds (even tho doctors had scientific knowledge/evidence) and almost went to prison. Gov purposely delayed warning for their political agenda and allowed the virus to spread, hence killing this man as well w/o any formal apology.

troycui
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they killed him, so sad instead of rewarding him

noahpaulos
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I don't know why this news felt so devastating to me. He gave his life for these people. Bless his kind soul and I wish this had never happened to him. I thank him for his service and my heart goes out to his beloved

Ena
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A great doctor, tried to protect and provide for the people, not only for his country but for the world. A great loss.😢😢😢

donsang
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Thank you for your service Dr Wenliang. You not only put your young life on the line for the people of China, but for the entire globe. Prayers to your family and loved ones and peace to you Dr Li.🙏❤

TheRealest
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Dr. Li Wenliang was a brave and honorable man. RIP

Caocao
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WOW! May God bless his soul & keep him, condolences to his family 😔

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What bothers me is that he was only 34yo. A young healthy man dies which tells me that this is a truly deadly virus!

solarasolarwind