Hospital Director in Wuhan Dies of Coronavirus Infection

Medical staff members working at the isolation ward of the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei Province, on Feb. 16, 2020. STR/AFP via Getty Images

The head of a leading hospital in the novel coronavirus outbreak epicenter of Wuhan has died of the deadly disease.

Liu Zhiming, 51, was the director of Wuchang Hospital and a neurologist. State media have confirmed that he died on the morning of Feb. 18. He is the highest level health official to succumb to the virus, known as COVID-19.