Because of the coronavirus epidemic, China is postponing the annual National People’s Congress, which should start on Thursday next week. The state broadcaster CCTV reported today. It is the first shift in 35 years. The parliament, with around 3,000 members, meets every year in early March for a ten-day session.
The National People’s Congress is the highest political body in China, but has virtually no decision-making powers. The conferences are particularly important because they explain the country’s political leadership – from President Xi Jinping downwards – and also approve the budget.
The number of deaths in China is skyrocketing
The number of coronavirus deaths in China skyrocketed. The Health Commission reported another 150 new Covid 19 deaths in Beijing today – more than ever in one day. Also in South Korea, where a major outbreak is developing, two new deaths from the lung disease and 161 newly discovered infections were reported.
There are already 763 infections and seven deaths in South Korea. No other country outside of China, where the virus broke out in December, has had more infections reported. China meanwhile advises its own population against US travel. Chinese are being treated unfairly there because of „excessive“ coronavirus measures, Beijing said.
Thousands of soldiers have now been quarantined in South Korea. North Korea in turn put all foreigners under quarantine.
First death in Bahrain
Bahrain meanwhile has the first dead. According to the authorities in the Kingdom of the Persian Gulf, it was a citizen of the country who had previously been to Iran.
There are three new cases of coronavirus in Kuwait. The state news agency KUNA also reported that these were people who had entered Iran. The infected, including a Saudi citizen, were among a group of 700 people who had been flown out of the Iranian city of Mashad the previous week.
