China to commend 'martyrs' deceased in COVID-19 control
CGTN

China will recognize medical workers who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia as "martyrs" and commend them in accordance with law, according to a circular released by the leading group of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on the prevention and control of the outbreak on Saturday. 

The circular, which outlined 10 measures to enhance the protection and care for medical workers, said children of the martyrs will enjoy preferential treatment in school enrollment and admission to educational institutions of a higher level.

File photo: Liu Zhiming, head of the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus epidemic, died from the virus on February 18, 2020. /Wuchang Hospital

File photo: Liu Zhiming, head of the Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus epidemic, died from the virus on February 18, 2020. /Wuchang Hospital

Earlier this week, China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission announced a plan to honor medical workers and other personnel who died fighting the epidemic as martyrs. 

The plan covers the deceased who had direct contact with suspected or confirmed cases and were infected with the virus when performing their duties including diagnosis, treatment, nursing, nosocomial infection control, specimen collection, pathogen detection and patient transfer, among others. Other people who sacrificed their lives could also be recognized as martyrs if certain criteria are met. 

It stressed comforting and compensating the martyrs' families. 

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The National Health Commission said last week that 1,716 Chinese medical workers had been infected with the novel coronavirus by February 11, among whom six had died. 

The leading group's circular also called for raising salaries and allowances of medical workers combating the outbreak, guaranteeing their daily necessities, strengthening the protection of their safety, giving them sufficient rest time and caring for their mental health. 

(With input from Xinhua)