Central task force to investigate whistleblower's death in Wuhan

China National Supervisory Commission will send a task force to Wuhan, the epicenter of a virus outbreak, to investigate issues involving Dr Li Wenliang, who died on Friday morning after being infected with the new coronavirus strain, the commission said on its website.

The team will carry out an “all-around” probe following leads provided by the public regarding Dr Li, who was among the first to warn about the new virus, it said.

Dr Li, 34, an eye doctor at Wuhan Central Hospital, passed away at 2:58am at the hospital despite rescue efforts after getting infected with the novel coronavirus, the hospital said in a statement on its Weibo account, adding it was deeply saddened.

The Wuhan government and World Health Organization also offered their sympathies and condolences.

"Our thoughts are with the family of Dr Li Wenliang at this difficult time," said Dr Gauden Galea, WHO representative to China, in an online statement.

Dr Li was among eight people who were reprimanded by Wuhan police for "spreading false information online that patients were diagnosed with a ‘SARS-like’ virus," according to an announcement by Wuhan police on January 29.

Dr Li had said in a WeChat group of his classmates that "seven people have been confirmed with a 'SARS-like virus'" in order to alert other doctors on December 30. Police confronted Li and issued him a letter of reprimand on January 3, he said on Weibo.

He also posted a copy of the letter which urged him to stop his violation immediately. After that, he went back to work as normal.

Dr Li developed symptoms such as cough and fever on January 10, was hospitalized on January 12 and confirmed infected on February 1 after testing positive for the coronavirus, according to his Weibo posts.

“I will cooperate during treatment and try to get better soon,” Dr Li said on Weibo on January 31.