Communist officials fired after disabled Chinese boy died when relatives were put in coronavirus quarantine
- Party secretary and township mayor sacked; other officials found responsible in death of Yan Cheng can expect to be disciplined, say investigators in Hubei
- Lack of adequate care for teenager who had cerebral palsy prompts angry comments on social media
Yan Cheng had cerebral palsy and died on January 29 while in the care of officials in Huajiahe township, Hongan county, more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.
The county investigation – which put the boy’s age at 16 – found that Cheng’s father had entrusted his son’s care to village cadres and doctors, and although they looked after him daily, they “did not try their hardest to fulfil their duty of care and responsibilities”, according to the report.
Huajiahe party secretary Wang Baoquan and mayor Peng Zhihong were fired. Others found to be responsible for Cheng’s death could expect to be disciplined, the report said. It also said that the cause of his death was yet to be determined.
Cheng’s father and autistic 11-year-old younger brother were put in isolation on January 24 after reporting signs of fever, leaving the teenager without care, food or company.
