Coronavirus: Wellbeing of Wuchang Hospital director Liu Zhiming uncertain amid conflicting reports

Dr Liu Zhiming, the head of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan.
Dr Liu Zhiming, the head of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan. Photo credit: Weibo

Conflicting reports have fuelled speculation around the wellbeing of Wuchang Hospital director Dr Liu Zhiming, who is reportedly fighting for his life after contracting the coronavirus in Wuhan.

Dr Liu reportedly fell ill when the coronavirus broke out in Wuhan in December. The Hubei Province city is considered the epicentre of the disease, which has killed 1770 people and infected more than 70,000 in mainland China so far.

State-run media initially claimed Dr Liu died on Monday, with Chongqing-based newspaper Red Star News saying he "sacrificed" himself to fight the outbreak. The outlet cited multiple sources, including a Hubei Provincial Health Commission director.

The Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, The People's Daily, also claimed the hospital director succumbed to his illness on Monday. Yet according to the New York Post, the publication later deleted the news from its English-language Twitter feed.

The news of Dr Liu's death has since been retracted by multiple outlets, with Express, the New York Post and the Daily Mail reporting that he is still continuing to receive treatment.

Daily Mail cites the Weibo account of the aforementioned Health Commission official, who retracted his confirmation of Dr Liu's death with a post claiming the doctor's family said he was still undergoing resuscitation. 

The uncertainty resembles the confusing coverage of Dr Li Wenliang's death, the Wuhan Central Hospital worker who alerted authorities to the coronavirus. He died from the illness on February 7.

Initial state media reports of Dr Li's death were denied by Wuhan Central Hospital, leading to the outlets deleting their posts. The hospital then confirmed the doctor's death in a statement later that day, leading to outrage and confusion on Chinese social media.

Last week a nurse at Wuchang Hospital, Liu Fan, died of the virus after contracting the disease at work. 

Wuchang Hospital is yet to comment on the report of Dr Liu's death.