President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is China’s “largest public health emergency” as the death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,442 and the number of infections hit almost 77,000 in the country. President Xi, who attended a meeting in Beijing to double efforts in coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak, said the epidemic “has the fastest transmission, widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control”.

President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the coronavirus epidemic is China’s “largest public health emergency” as the death toll from the deadly virus climbed to 2,442 and the number of infections hit almost 77,000 in the country. President Xi, who attended a meeting in Beijing to double efforts in coordinating the prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak, said the epidemic “has the fastest transmission, widest range of infection and has been the most difficult to prevent and control”.