Dr. Li Wenliang
医生文亮

Worldwide mourning

Dr. Li Wenliang was one of the first to foresee and warn about COVID-19 pandemic. His death by COVID, censorship by the government and efforts to warn the world were the cause of sadness and anger worldwide.

At today's #2019nCoV media briefing @DrMikeRyan was asked about reports that Dr Li Wenliang had passed away, and he expressed condolences.

WHO has no information on the status of Dr Li. pic.twitter.com/59UzWpcfa7

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 6, 2020

Below is a timeline about Wenliang's life:

• 1986 - Born in Beizhen, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China
• 2004 - Finished High School with an excellent academic record in Beizheng High School (北镇市高级中学)
• 2011 - Gradueted in Wuhan University School of Medicine as a clinical medicine student in a seven-year combined bachelor's and master's degree program.
• 2014 - Wenliang became an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital in Wuhan.
• December, 2019 - Beginning of COVID-19 reports by Wenliang in an WeChat private group. He also requests for everyone be careful and protect their family and loved ones.
• January 3, 2020 - Police from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau investigating the case interrogated Wenliang, issued a formal written warning and censuring him for "publishing untrue statements about seven confirmed SARS cases at the Huanan Seafood Market". He was made to sign a letter of admonition promising not to do it again. The police warned him that any recalcitrant behavior would result in a prosecution.
• January 8, 2020 - After Wenliang returned to work at the hospital he contracted the coronavirus unwittingly while treating an infected patient at his hospital.
• January 12, 2020 - Wenliang was admitted to intensive care at Houhu Hospital District, Wuhan Central Hospital, where he was quarantined and treated.
• January 30, 2020 - He tested positive for the virus.
• January 31, 2020 - He published his experience in the police station with the letter of admonition on social media. His post went viral and users questioned why the doctors who gave earlier warnings were silenced by the authorities.
• February 1, 2020 - He was formally diagnosed with the virus infection and posted a message vowing to return to the frontlines after recovery.
• February 5, 2020 - According to a colleague, his condition became critical.
• February 6, 2020 - While Wenliang was on the phone with a friend, he told the friend that he was having trouble breathing and that his oxygen saturation had dropped to 85%. At around 19:00, he was sent to the emergency room. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was reportedly used to keep him alive. The effort was unsuccessful, and according to China Newsweek, his heartbeat stopped at 21:30. In social media posts, the Chinese state media reported that Wenliang had died, but the posts were soon deleted.
• February 7, 2020 - The hospital formally announced that Wenliang had died at 2:58am at the age of 33. During the confusion, more than 17 million people were watching the live stream for his status updates. His death provoked considerable grief and anger on social media which became extended to a demand for freedom of speech.
• February 9, 2020 - Hundreds of people in New York commemorated Wenliang in a tribute at Central Park.
• April, 2020 - Fortune magazine ranked Wenliang as No.1 of the "World's 25 Greatest Leaders: Heroes of the pandemic".
• June 12, 2020 - Wenliang and his wife, Fu Xuejie, had one son, and were expecting their second child at the time of his death. His widow gave birth to a second son.

"Husband, can you see this from heaven? You have given me your final gift today. I will of course love and protect them."

-- Wenliang's wife, Fu Xuejie

Here you can read and know more about his legacy in this Wikipedia entry.