Tibet activates highest-level public health alert

Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region on Wednesday activated the highest level of public health alert after it reported the first suspected case of novel coronavirus. It became the last region on the mainland to activate the Level-I alert of public health incidents.

Previously 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions on the Chinese mainland have activated the Level-I alert of public health incidents, the highest level of emergency public health alerts and responses in the nation's public health management system.

Lhasa, capital of Tibet, reported the first suspected case of novel coronavirus pneumonia Wednesday, according to local health authorities.

The patient surnamed Zhang, 34, is from the city of Suizhou in Central China's Hubei province. He came to Lhasa by train from the provincial capital Wuhan on Jan 24 and was hospitalized on Jan 25.

The regional center for disease control and prevention diagnosed the patient as a suspected case on Tuesday. Samples have been sent to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for further tests.

The patient's vital signs are stable, and close contacts have been put under medical observation.