China investigating death of doctor who sounded coronavirus alarm

Chinese investigators on Friday announced that they will probe “relevant issues raised by the public” about the doctor who was threatened by police after publishing his concerns about the coronavirus and who later died from the outbreak, The Associated Press reported.

The World Health Organization confirmed Thursday that Dr. Li Wenliang had died after contracting the virus. 

The doctor was one of eight medical professionals in Wuhan, the original site of the outbreak, who tried to warn colleagues of the virus late last year, the AP reported. He wrote on his Weibo account that on Dec. 3 he examined a test sample that showed the coronavirus was similar to SARS.

Li was later detained by police and accused of spreading “rumors.” He was released on Jan. 3 after signing a document admitting to spreading falsehoods and was warned by authorities of possible punishment if he continued, according to the AP. 

Li was hospitalized Jan. 12 after developing a cough and fever in the days before, in addition to having difficulty breathing. His death was confirmed Thursday.

The doctor’s death prompted outrage online about how he was treated by authorities, the AP reported. The pro-government Global Times newspaper said the eight whistleblowers’ treatment “was evidence of local authorities’ incompetence to tackle a contagious and deadly virus,” the AP reported.  

At least 636 people have died in mainland China from the coronavirus outbreak as of Friday, and more than 31,200 people have been infected worldwide.