Here are some encouraging medical research developments achieved over the weekend related to the fight against the novel coronavirus.

BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) — China’s daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outside Hubei, the epicenter province in the outbreak, have dropped for 13 consecutive days, according to the National Health Commission.

At today’s press briefing organized by the State Council inter-agency task force, Mi Feng, an NHC spokesperson and a Deputy Director-General for Communications, said that as of 24:00, 15 February, the share of severe cases in confirmed cases had registered a clear drop in Wuhan and Hubei as well as in other parts of the country. In Wuhan, the severe case rate dropped from the peak of 32.4% on 28 January to 21.6% on 15 February despite some fluctuations. In other parts of Hubei, the severe case rate has gone down from the peak of 18.4% on 27 January to 11.1% on 15 February. Nationwide excepting Hubei, it has declined from 15.9% on 27 January to 7.2% on 15 February. These positive developments suggest that China’s epidemic control efforts are beginning to pay off.

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) — The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday called for solidarity in fighting the epidemics here at the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC).

BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) — China’s daily new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease outside Hubei, the epicenter province in the outbreak, have been dropping for 12 consecutive days, according to the National Health Commission Sunday.

“This is really a classic example of a case where everybody’s interests are best served by collaboration. And everybody needs to recognize the remarkable efforts that China is making to deal with this problem,” UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said.

1. Between 00:00 and 24:00, 13 February, the following were newly reported by the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

According to experts, the number of newly confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) on 12 February released by Hubei Province increased significantly because it included the 13,332 cases confirmed by clinical diagnosis. This new diagnosis standard will contribute to the targeted treatment of previously unconfirmed cases as well as the overall epidemic control.

The novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic is noticeably slowing down in China, with Hubei province, the center of the outbreak, recording the lowest number of new infections since late January and the rest of the country seeing the total confirmed cases decline for eight consecutive days.

The cure rate for novel coronavirus pneumonia patients on the Chinese mainland jumped to 10.6 percent on Tuesday from a low of 1.3 percent on Jan 27, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday.

According to latest statistics released on 12 February by the Health Commission of Hubei Province, between 00:00 and 24:00, 11 February, 1,638 new confirmed cases were reported in Hubei. As of 24:00, 11 February, 33,366 newly confirmed cases were reported in the province.

GENEVA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) — World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the first vaccines for the novel coronavirus could be ready in 18 months.

More world leaders and heads of international organizations have expressed, through various channels, their sympathies and support for China’s fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak.

President visits Beijing residents, extends sympathy to victims, families

China’s cabinet urged efforts to protect workers from getting infected and meanwhile resume production as soon as possible.

Remote work models, from conference calls to online training, are quickly taking hold in China as a growing number of companies encourage temporary home-based work to contain the novel coronavirus.

On 6 February, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom conveyed through Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, to Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming her sympathy and blessings for China in the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak. At an evening reception held at the Ambassador’s residence, Prince Andrew said the Queen is very concerned about the outbreak; she understands that the fight against it is now at a crucial stage, expresses sincere sympathy to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people, and prays for the speedy control and victory over the virus.

International community praises China’s response to novel coronavirus

On 7 February, the State Council inter-agency task force held a press briefing on further steps taken to control the outbreak in key areas, increase hospital admission and cure rates, and lower infection and case fatality rates.

BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) — The State Council, China’s cabinet, on Wednesday released tax exemption and loan policies to strengthen novel coronavirus containment and better meet the demand for medical supplies and life necessities.

BEIJING — China has encouraged dealers of daily necessities to resume operation to meet increasing demand in cities amid the epidemic outbreak, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

SHANGHAI, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) — When some industries in China have been put into temporary stagnation due to the sudden coronavirus epidemic outbreak, the country’s booming digital economy, however, is playing an increasingly important role in hedging economic risks and uncertainty.

China has the confidence and capability to win the battle on the prevention and control of the pneumonia epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

FDF China, collocated with CPhI China, will be held from June 22-24, 2020 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). More and more formulation enterprises need to implement strategic layout to step up cooperation in innovation and facilitate the integration of science and technology with economic growth and increase the sharing of innovation results.