Residents in the Chinese city of Wuhan did not forget the bell-ringer who warned the world about COVID-19 before he himself died from it a year ago.
Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist in Wuhan at a local hospital, became a poignant symbol of the early days of the outbreak before it was officially recognized. When he tried to sound the alarm, he was reprimanded by Chinese officials for “spreading rumors”.
“He was the first to tell us about the virus,” Li Pan, 24, of Wuhan, who owns an online store, told Reuters on Saturday.
“He certainly considered the impact to be great, but he still sounded the alarm. It was really brave, “said Li.
The death of the doctor on February 7, 2020 caused both great public mourning and a rare outcry of anger online. Zhong Nanshan, a well-known epidemiologist, cried in an interview about Li, calling him a ‘hero of China’.
But when President Xi Jinping honored the “heroes” of the “people’s war” against the virus in September, he did not say a word about Li.
Life in Wuhan has mostly resumed its pre-COVID rhythm, but locals said Li is still revered there.
Ji Penghui, a 34-year-old designer, attributed to Li that he woke up early from the dangers of the virus. He said he was in a hurry to put on masks before officials said anything about it to the public.
“The public recognizes him most strongly, and personally I think he should receive more official honors, rather than be treated as he has done in the past,” Ji said.