It's a two-front war on the virus and economy for China

GENERATIONS of journalism students have been told that if a plane crashes, it is news. If it does not crash, it is not news. Hence, news tends to be bad news.

It is not surprising, therefore, that in reporting on the novel coronavirus currently afflicting China, attention is focused on the number of new infections and deaths each day. Hence, it came as something of a surprise when, on Feb 6, at the Chinese Foreign Ministry's daily press briefing, spokesman Hua Chunying said, before taking questions, that there was information from the National Health Commission that she wished to share.

During the 24 hours of Feb 5, she announced, 261 patients had been cured and discharged, while fatalities numbered 73. Newly confirmed cases excluding Hubei, the disease's epicentre, "declined for a second day starting from Feb 4". It was a daring move, based on China's interpretation of the direction in which the fight against the virus was moving.