93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
(AP) A hospital director who helped lead the fight against China’s new virus has become one of its victims.
Liu Zhiming had mobilized all the resources of his hospital in Wuhan city, at the center of the outbreak, as thousands of patients arrived each day.
Liu is at least the seventh health worker to die of the disease among the more than 1,700 who have become sick. His death comes as authorities are cautiously cheering a reduction in the number of new daily cases and deaths, along with the results of a study showing most people who contract the virus experience only mild symptoms.
Global shares are down as the impact from the virus outbreak that began in China deepens. Apple said it would fail to meet its profit target and China moved to cancel major events including the Beijing auto show. Benchmarks fell Tuesday in Paris, London, Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong. Futures are pointing to a likely drop on Wall Street when it opens.
The virus outbreak is bringing new travel advisories and disrupting trade, travel and supply chains. That is casting a vast shadow over the regional economy. South Korea’s president said the economy was in an “emergency situation.”
