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Coronavirus: China’s ‘Sars hero’ Zhong Nanshan in line for country’s top honour over role in Covid-19 fight

  • Respiratory expert is only name put forward for the Medal of the Republic this year
  • Three others who helped fight Covid-19 will have also had their contributions recognised

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Zhong Nanshan is China’s leading respiratory diseases expert. Photo: Thomas Yau
China’s top respiratory disease expert, Zhong Nanshan, is in line to receive the country’s top honour “for his courage in speaking out” over Covid-19 and contribution to medical science.

Three others who played prominent roles in the fight against the disease were the only other names on a list of nominees published on Monday, a much shorter list than last year’s inaugural honours list.

The Chinese government warned last week that the fight against the disease would not end soon, and called for better long-term coordination between medical workers and government planners.

Earlier this year the government formally exonerated Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang, whose death from Covid-19 triggered national outrage after it emerged he had been reprimanded by the authorities for attempting to warn colleagues about the disease.

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Beware of the potential for a second Covid-19 wave, Zhong Nanshan warns

Beware of the potential for a second Covid-19 wave, Zhong Nanshan warns

Last year eight people were awarded the highest honour, the Medal of the Republic, and 28 people with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise received national honorary titles.

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