Hubei township heads removed for careless oversight of boy

Two township heads in Hubei province have been removed from their posts for carelessly attending to a boy with cerebral palsy, who died during his only guardian's isolation due to novel coronavirus infection, the local government said on Saturday.

On Jan 22, Yan Xiaowen, the 16-year-old boy's father, had a fever and was sent to the local hospital for observation after he returned home in Huajiahe township, Hubei province, from Wuhan, the epicenter of novel coronavirus outbreak, five days earlier (on Jan 17).

Since he was the only guardian of the boy, Yan left the boy who cannot take care of himself to his relatives and township officials during his isolation.

On Jan 29, Yan was confirmed with the virus. The boy, as a close contact and suspected case, was also sent to the local hospital for observation. Just an hour and half after the boy arrived at the hospital, he died.

"The cause of death is still under investigation. But the township officials are still held accountable for it because they hadn't tried their best to take care of the boy during last week," the Hongan county government said in a notice.

According to the notice, Wang Baoquan, Party chief of the Huajiahe township, and Peng Zhihong, deputy Party chief, have been removed from posts. And other township officials related to the case will also be punished.

"This aims to enforce discipline and the correct working style of Party members and government officials, especially during the fight against the virus," the notice said.