Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Visits Virus-Hit Wuhan As Toll Rises To 81

Prime Minister promises medical reinforcements and adequate market supply

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will “inspect and direct” efforts to control a virus outbreak in the central city of Wuhan and promised reinforcements, as provincial authorities faced accusations from the public of a failure to respond in time.

Mr. Li, clad in a blue protective suit and mask, thanked medical workers in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the epicentre of the outbreak, as the death toll rose on Monday to 81.

“Li ... thanked frontline medical workers for their all-out efforts in treating patients and urged them to pay attention to their own protection,” Xinhua news agency said. “He required efforts to guarantee medical resources supply, race against time to treat patients and ensure adequate market supply and stable prices.”