China To Honour Those Who Died In Fight Against Virus

People will observe a 3-minute silence and cars, trains and ships will sound their horns, alongside the wails of air raid sirens. National flag will also be flown at half mast in China and at missions overseas

China will hold a national mourning event on Saturday to commemorate those who died in its fight against the deadly coronavirus, including 14 frontline workers.

Starting at 10am, all people nationwide will observe a three-minute silence and cars, trains and ships will sound their horns, alongside the wails of air raid sirens, said the State Council in a statement on Friday.

The national flag will also be flown at half-mast across the country and at embassies and consulates overseas.

China will suspend all public entertainment activities as well, as it mourns the lives lost in its virus battle.

On Thursday, China identified 14 people as “martyrs” of the epidemic, describing them as role models among frontline medics and epidemic prevention workers, reported the official Xinhua News Agency.

They include doctor Li Wenliang, who was reprimanded by police after sharing posts on social media to warn others of a SARS-like virus spreading in his city.

Li’s eventual death from the virus in February prompted a national outpouring of grief and anger at the government’s handling of the crisis — on top of demands for freedom of speech.