Millions Watch Live Streaming of Hospital Construction in Virus-Hit Wuhan

HEFEI, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) — Tens of millions of people around China are watching livestream videos of two specialized hospitals built at breakneck speed in Wuhan, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Replicating Beijing's SARS treatment model in 2003, Wuhan started building two field hospitals, namely Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) and Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain), dedicated to treating the novel coronavirus patients since late January.

China's state broadcaster has been live-streaming the around-the-clock construction progress, which instantly went viral online. With no narration or background music, the livestream videos provide audiences a real-time bird's-eye view of the construction sites.

Calling themselves "online overseers," the citizens who are staying indoors to avoid infections keep a close eye on the projects and exchange their ideas and feelings in the comments.

"Cheer up, China! I believe we can curb the epidemic," reads a typical online comment.

"Salute to the workers working around the clock," reads another comment.

A total of 1,400 medical staff from the armed forces are tasked with treating patients in Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan starting from Monday.

On the construction site of Leishenshan Hospital, numerous workers and machines are racing against time to meet the deadline.

"The livestream shows China's speed against the epidemic," said Xu Hua, professor at the School of Sociology and Political Science of Anhui University. "The popularity of the livestream demonstrates Chinese's concern about the epidemic."

Xu said watching livestream is more than entertainment. "It actually helps relieve people's pressure and embodies their hope and confidence in fighting against the virus as soon as possible."

The Huoshenshan Hospital has a capacity of 1,000 beds, while the Leishenshan Hospital is expected to accommodate around 1,600 beds.

Chinese health authorities Sunday said it received reports of 2,590 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 45 deaths on Saturday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

Wuhan reported 894 new confirmed cases and 32 new deaths on Saturday, according to the Hubei Provincial Health Commission.

(Source: Xinhua)