As it struggles to combat a coronavirus epidemic that has sickened more than 2,700 people and killed 81, the Chinese government is relying on a medical system that is overburdened and overwhelmed even in normal times. While other parts of everyday life in China have significantly improved in the past decade, the quality of health care has stagnated. China does not have a functioning primary care system, so most people flock to hospitals. Those weaknesses are most pronounced in the poorer areas of China — like Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus. Panicked residents of the city are heading to the hospitals if they have any sign of a cold or cough.

Source: New York Times January 27, 2020 16:59 UTC