Recovery rate of COVID-19 patients offers valuable experience

The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in China has reached 94.3 percent as of June 2, the successful experience which can offer valuable experience to the international community fighting the pandemic, said Ma Xiaowei, director of the National Health Commission, on June 7.

Upholding the principle that saving lives is of paramount importance, Chinese government has adopted "early detection, reporting, isolation and treatment" in the epidemic prevention and control, and insisted on "treating the infected in dedicated facilities by senior medical professionals from all over the country and with all necessary resources", he said.

Thanks to the devoted efforts of a vast number of medical workers, the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in China has exceeded the average recovery rate of viral pneumonia, he said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office, adding that China has also brought the treatment of patients in severe or critical condition to a higher level.

Ma said that China has taken firm and effective measures to control the source of infection and reduce the infection rate, launching two massive dragnet screenings of potential virus carriers among its residents in every community in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city.

Chin has also been speeding up the nucleic acid tests by authorizing more hospitals and third-party institutions, which increased the test capability in Wuhan from 300 people to 50,000 on daily basis, he said, adding that the diagnose time was reduced from 15.4 days at the incipient stage to three days currently.

Ma said the country has also spared no efforts in strengthening its medical service and raising the hospital admission capacity, with over 2,000 designated hospitals and more than 10,000 fever clinics in place.

The construction of the temporary treatment centers, better known as "Fangcang hospitals" in China, or the makeshift hospitals, has played an importance role in treating patients with mild symptoms. By Feb 22, 16 makeshift hospitals had been put into operation in Wuhan, offering more than 12,000 beds and ensuring that all suspected and confirmed cases could be received and treated.

The central government altogether dispatched more than 340 medical teams consisting of over 42,000 healthcare workers to aid Hubei, including those specializing in intensive care and treating infectious diseases, which greatly enhance the recovery rate, he said, adding that none of the medical workers were infected.

Ma also noted the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine plays a significant part in treating patients with either with mild symptoms or in critical conditions.