The Public Health Response to Covid-19 in Zhejiang Province and Washington State
Since the WHO China Country Office was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan on December 31, 2019, what we came to know as COVID-19 has since spread to 187 countries, infecting more than 3.7 million people and causing at least 270,000 deaths. And whereas Wuhan was soon overwhelmed by the disease, nearby Zhejiang province, with close ties to Wuhan and a major economic powerhouse, acted early and was able to limit the spread of the virus with drastic measures. In the United States, Washington State had the first COVID-19 death, on February 19, more than a month after the first confirmed case on January 21. Early implementation of social distancing measures is believed to have drastically reduced the spread of the virus. Although Washington State is still seeing new cases and new deaths daily, the curve appears to have been flattened. As local and national governments prepare to relax social distancing and return people’s lives to a new normal while the virus still spreads and with no vaccine, what must be done to minimize rebound and safeguard public health? A panel with public health experts from Zhejiang and Washington State will bring you this timely discussion. This webinar is hosted by the World Affairs Council, partnering with the Washington State China Relations Council and the United Chinese Americans of Washington State.