Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first appearance at the front lines of the coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak, after staying mostly hidden from the public in the past week.

Xi's rare appearances of late included a meeting on Jan. 28 with the director-general of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and a meeting on Feb. 5 with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Leader commanding efforts to contain the virus

Predominant state broadcaster CCTV released footage of his appearance on Monday afternoon, Feb. 10, where he showed up at the office of a neighbourhood community centre in Beijing's Chaoyang district while wearing a surgical mask.

According to CCTV, he was there to understand the efforts at the front line to contain the nCoV outbreak, and the measures in place to ensure supplies of daily essentials for the residents.

A local staff took his temperature, and he listened to a presentation on the work done to prevent the disease.

A leader who empathises with the people

Xi interacted with the residents as well.

He also waved to the residents who chose to stay within their apartments -- likely due to self-quarantine measures -- who were filmed waving back enthusiastically as well.

Xi later visited Beijing Ditan Hospital, where nCoV patients in Beijing are being treated.

In a video call with Wuhan hospitals, he proclaimed Wuhan as "a city of heroes", and motivated the health workers by saying "we must have confidence that we'll win", New York Times reported.

Xi also acknowledged that some healthcare workers had "sacrificed their lives", a line that Wall Street Journal said was an indirect reference to the "rumour-monger"-turned-whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang, who passed away suddenly on Friday, Feb. 7.

Xi's appearance on Monday followed the highest number of deaths reported in a single day in mainland China by the Chinese National Health Commission.

A total of 97 deaths from the nCoV was reported on Sunday, Feb. 9, bringing the death toll to 910 -- exceeding the total death toll for the SARS outbreak in 2003.

Out of sight, but not out of mind

While Xi has largely stayed out of public view for the past weeks, state media has kept up its reporting of his work in commanding efforts to contain the nCoV outbreak.

China Daily has reported his comments that urged "resolute efforts" to contain the spread of the virus.

His comments that warned of the nCoV outbreak possibly affecting the country's social stability were also carried by Xinhua.

Why no show at Wuhan?

Xi has noticeably stayed away from Wuhan -- the epicentre of the outbreak -- sending the country's number two, Premier Li Keqiang, there instead.

The decision generated discussion among China watchers as to the reasons behind it, with Jude Blanchette of Washington-based think tank CSIS saying it might be an attempt to protect him from any potential fallout resulting from the public health crisis.

While anger over Li's death was mostly concentrated on the local Wuhan officials, rather than the central government in Beijing, a misstep could result in Xi losing his legitimacy to rule.

Therefore, Li, the premier, was a possible scapegoat should the virus not be contained soon.

Such a strategy was used for other "problematic policy areas" as well, such as relations with the United States.

By choosing to remain "somewhat aloof", and putting his deputies on the front line, not only could Xi claim credit should a crisis be averted, lower-ranking officials could take the fall for him should things go south, Blanchette opined.

And as compared to a low-ranking Wuhan official, Li makes a far better scapegoat for his position as number two in the country, which is high enough to both take the blame, and let Xi retain his top position.

Top image via CCTV video