Coronavirus: China to build two huge hospitals in just two weeks

Last week, the picture of a hospital in China’s Wuhan went viral across the world.  Several media reports claimed that the hospital was built in just three days to tend to Coronavirus-affected patients.  The picture was first shared by two China-based media outlets that are owned by the government.  Many have been amazed by the fact that a hospital with 1000 beds was completed so fast in a miraculous way.

Turns out that the news is false.  As fact-checked by Buzzfeednews.com, the picture is of a modular apartment building located 600 miles from Wuhan.

The actual news is that two hospitals are being constructed in Wuhan and they will have 2,600 beds.  These will be completed in just two weeks.  Bulldozing works, etc. have been carried out at a breakneck speed.

If you are wondering why such projects can’t be undertaken in India, it’s because rule-based democracies like ours have checks and balances in place.  Environmental clearances, etc. are a must and they sometimes take years.  In any case, during disasters, makeshift arrangements are to be relied upon, say experts.