Doctors, nurses, and other key health workers have been traveling to Wuhan — creating a movement of volunteers, who are leaving the safety of their homes to fight the outbreak at its very epicenter. Their individual stories are being posted across social media, saying goodbye to their worried children, parents, and grandparents. Over the past weeks, Wuhan's exhausted health workers have been sleeping on floors, their faces deeply marked by long and grueling hours in masks and hazmat suits. These women and men are the heroes of Wuhan, risking their own health in order to save others. This is our tribute to them. (Photo by Xinhua News agency)

The World Health Organization is on its way to China, on an international mission to urgently further understand the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has infected tens of thousands of people in Wuhan and beyond. Dr. Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Chief of Staff and Assistant Director-General, says the mission may go to Wuhan — or to another high-impact area, to avoid distracting from strained resources in the epicenter. He says China has helped secure the safety of the world by taking drastic action to contain the virus, pointing to the comparatively low number of infections globally. Dr. Schwartländer speaks to James Chau in this interview, sharing his insights on what the likely length of the outbreak might be, and why it is critical to mobilize a community-led movement to end it.

In China, cities are being sealed off, employees are being asked to work from home, and face masks are in very short supply as the novel coronavirus hits 20,000 cases. After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency, the world has been on high alert — focusing funding and resources to combat the spread of the virus. WHO Goodwill Ambassador, and host of The China Current, James Chau was interviewed on what this health emergency means for the public — offering a reminder to set aside panic and keep informed. It is a time for solidarity and science, not rumor and stigma, urges James. Follow us for the latest stories on the novel outbreak.