Doctor Li Wenliang has since contracted the coronavirus and is now fighting for his life in isolation in quarantine. The Doctor at Wuhan Central Hospital sent a text to his friends in late December to warn them of an outbreak of a “SARS-like” coronavirus. However, within 24 hours Wuhan police were investigating Doctor Li Wenliang for spreading an illegal “rumour”.
The 34-year-old ophthalmologist told CNN in an interview over the phone: “I can barely breathe.”
In the background, the hospital machines can be heard during the interview.
CNN asked Doctor Li Wenliang how he felt regarding the police investigation into him.
He said: “I felt a little afraid.
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“Afraid I would be detained.
“Afraid my family would worry.”
Li Wenliiang was made to sign a document by police admitting that he started a rumour about the coronavirus.
The document said: “We want you to operate with the police and listen to our reminder and stop the illegal act. Can you do that?”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the novel coronavirus strain takes between two to 10 days to incubate symptoms.
The virus can spread via contaminated surfaces including door handles and railings.
Infectious disease and virus specialists believe the scale of the outbreak indicates human-to-human transmission.
Experts estimate each infected person is infecting, on average, two to three more people.