First discovered just ahead of the Chinese New Year Festival in January 2020, coronavirus 2019-nCoV infections threaten millions. The World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and other health agencies have issued official warnings.1,2,3
In response to the outbreak, the Chinese National Health Commission held a conference on January 22, 2020 to assess the public health crisis posed by this new virus.4
Li Bin, deputy director of the commission, confirmed at midnight on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 that at least 440 cases of pneumonia had been caused by this new coronavirus, affecting 13 provinces in China and resulting in a death toll of nine. The number of people infected by the coronavirus has since risen into the tens of thousands, and the death toll has extended well into the hundreds.
Where has the new coronavirus spread outside China?
The initial outbreak of this new coronavirus has been linked to the city of Wuhan in China, which continues to be the epicenter of infections and death.
The epidemic has generated fear and panic in China and much of the rest of the world — and IQAir quickly stepped in to support Wuhan hospitals helping protect staff and patients from the virus.
IQAir supplies air purifiers to key hospitals in Wuhan
IQAir has provided HealthPro 250 air purifiers to hospitals in Wuhan designated to treat people infected by the coronavirus, supplying purifiers first to the radiology unit, respiratory unit, and others at Tongji Hospital, affiliated with the Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, as well as to Wuhan Union Hospital.
IQAir is also working with its global supply chain to help give priority to the supply of the IQAir Mask to hospitals in the Wuhan region.
How IQAir helped during the SARS virus outbreak
According to public health officials, the current 2019-nCoV coronavirus comes from the same family of viruses as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) that killed 774 people in 2003.5,6,7
IQAir air purifiers were rigorously tested for virus control by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and provided more than 150 hospitals to help protect staff and patients.
The respiratory unit of Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing, China also purchased numerous IQAir HealthPro 250 systems during the SARS outbreak in 2003 — over 16 years later, the systems are still in stable operation.
IQAir’s vision is simple: “Clean air for everyone, anytime, anywhere.” IQAir now hopes to continue to provide the necessary support in the fight against the new coronavirus.
"The ongoing coronavirus epidemic is a tragedy for all affected. We hope that the concerted efforts taken will soon show results and ultimately help us win the fight against this deadly virus," said Frank Hammes, global CEO of IQAir. "We salute the thousands of healthcare workers that are risking their lives to help others in this time of need."
ABOUT IQAIR
IQAir is a Swiss-based air quality technology company that since 1963 empowers individuals, organizations and communities to breathe cleaner air through information, collaboration and technology solutions.
