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52 Days China and the Pandemic 26/12/19
A technician in a private lab in China sequenced a sample from a patient & said it was a bat-SARS like virus.
Wuhan Gov & China CDC were told
They must have known
Meanwhile hospitals in Wuhan were admitting patients with severe pneumonia
A technician in a private lab in China sequenced a sample from a patient & said it was a bat-SARS like virus.
Wuhan Gov & China CDC were told
They must have known
Meanwhile hospitals in Wuhan were admitting patients with severe pneumonia
Another private lab sequenced another sample and mistakenly said it WAS SARS.
Despite efforts to keep it quiet this information went viral.
Taiwan Social media was alive with rumours before the end of December 2019
By 31 Dec a newsletter went out to 80 million people worldwide
Despite efforts to keep it quiet this information went viral.
Taiwan Social media was alive with rumours before the end of December 2019
By 31 Dec a newsletter went out to 80 million people worldwide
However other scientific intelligence suggested it was associated to SARS but with differences.
The Head of the Chinese CDC, Gao, told and American colleague that it was a new coronavirus but not easily transmissible.
But information was out and he wasn’t believed
The Head of the Chinese CDC, Gao, told and American colleague that it was a new coronavirus but not easily transmissible.
But information was out and he wasn’t believed
Officials still played it down describing it as a viral pneumonia and no evidence of human to human transmission.
Cover up and message control was the order of the day.
On 1st Jan the doctors who had leaked the news were reprimanded and shamed in public Chinese TV
Cover up and message control was the order of the day.
On 1st Jan the doctors who had leaked the news were reprimanded and shamed in public Chinese TV
The Ophthalmologist, WenLiang, was required to sign a retraction
Meanwhile “SARS” disappeared from the Chinese Internet when searches carried out. Censored
International law required that if a Gov knows there is a novel coronavirus it is required to report it to WHO in 24hrs
Meanwhile “SARS” disappeared from the Chinese Internet when searches carried out. Censored
International law required that if a Gov knows there is a novel coronavirus it is required to report it to WHO in 24hrs
Instead the WHO heard about it by rumours in the internet and it took 48 hours to respond to WHO requests for information and even then merely said they had several cases of viral pneumonia.
The Gov, however SAID it started sending regular updates to WHO from 3rd Jan.
The Gov, however SAID it started sending regular updates to WHO from 3rd Jan.
A renounced virologist in a Shanghai Lab got lung samples on 2nd Jan.
5th Jan he got the full genetic code.
Similar to SARS so likely transmissible. He wrote to the central Gov to that effect and advising preventative measures. He wanted to publish.
5th Jan he got the full genetic code.
Similar to SARS so likely transmissible. He wrote to the central Gov to that effect and advising preventative measures. He wanted to publish.
He (& all labs) were told they could not . 4 other Chinese labs also sequenced samples.
Meanwhile the Chinese Health Board were reassuring people it was not transmissible.
But more and more people were arriving v sick to hospital.
Health workers were forbidden to speak out.
Meanwhile the Chinese Health Board were reassuring people it was not transmissible.
But more and more people were arriving v sick to hospital.
Health workers were forbidden to speak out.
By 8th/9th Jan is was obvious to healthcare professionals they had a transmissible new virus.
Very confused and angry to hear the Gov covering up, trivialising it.
Staff were not allowed to wear masks for fear of causing panic. They got sick.
Very confused and angry to hear the Gov covering up, trivialising it.
Staff were not allowed to wear masks for fear of causing panic. They got sick.
On 6th Jan 12 days of annual political meetings went ahead in Wuhan.
Efforts to suppress news of the virus continued.
WHO by now very concerned about the lack of data from China and the gap between that and internet chat.
Efforts to suppress news of the virus continued.
WHO by now very concerned about the lack of data from China and the gap between that and internet chat.
8th Jan WSJ about to publish that Chinese Gov has the sequence so WHO was not getting any information from the Government.
A leaked recording of Dr Michael Ryan in a WHO is clearly v worried and not believing the Chinese Gov’s assurances that it was not transmissible.
A leaked recording of Dr Michael Ryan in a WHO is clearly v worried and not believing the Chinese Gov’s assurances that it was not transmissible.
In fact Chinese officials went on TV and said the outbreak was over since they closed the wet market.
WHO says every single country is reluctant to tell them when such event arise.
WHO says every single country is reluctant to tell them when such event arise.
Even when the Chinese Gov announced it was a novel coronavirus The Shanghai virologist who first sequenced the virus was told he could not release the sequence.
But he got it out to a U.K. colleague who posted the sequence on an open network.
That forced the Chinese Gov’s hand
But he got it out to a U.K. colleague who posted the sequence on an open network.
That forced the Chinese Gov’s hand
All that time wasted.
Thailand had a suspected case from 5 days earlier. They now knew it was the new virus.
The lab of Chinese virologist who leaked the sequence was closed “for rectification”.
Hundreds of patients were arriving every day.
Staff were getting sick.
Thailand had a suspected case from 5 days earlier. They now knew it was the new virus.
The lab of Chinese virologist who leaked the sequence was closed “for rectification”.
Hundreds of patients were arriving every day.
Staff were getting sick.
Patients were dying but they were not being logged as Covid deaths.
Just 41 cases logged at a time when there were hundreds and hundreds.
Meanwhile the cases were reviewed by national experts.
Just two thirds linked to the market. Efficient human to human transmission.
Just 41 cases logged at a time when there were hundreds and hundreds.
Meanwhile the cases were reviewed by national experts.
Just two thirds linked to the market. Efficient human to human transmission.
They were frightened by what they saw.
Whilst they sent a report to the Chinese Gov they also published in the Lancet and made it clear the illness was very severe, serious with a risk of a global pandemic. That arrived 14-17 Jan but only published after peer review.
Whilst they sent a report to the Chinese Gov they also published in the Lancet and made it clear the illness was very severe, serious with a risk of a global pandemic. That arrived 14-17 Jan but only published after peer review.
It took the Chinese Gov to 14 Jan to prepare for major public health disaster.
Hospitals across the country were prepared but did not spell out the gravity to the public, still referring to the possibility of “limited human transmission”.
Politics before public health.
Hospitals across the country were prepared but did not spell out the gravity to the public, still referring to the possibility of “limited human transmission”.
Politics before public health.
Sounds awfully familiar.
14/1/20 WHO called its 1st press conference but stuck with the message of it being limited human to human transmission, but had to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic
But later said they could not confirm it as they were not on the ground in Wuhan
14/1/20 WHO called its 1st press conference but stuck with the message of it being limited human to human transmission, but had to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic
But later said they could not confirm it as they were not on the ground in Wuhan
Meanwhile outbreaks were occurring in other major cities and still a week to the Chinese New Year. 100s of millions of migrant workers travel home.
No lockdown ordered. Travel restrictions not imposed.
Banquets not cancelled.
19/1/20 Chinese CDC still reassuring the public.
No lockdown ordered. Travel restrictions not imposed.
Banquets not cancelled.
19/1/20 Chinese CDC still reassuring the public.
20/1/20. 198 cases reported...then 224.
It was nearly the end of January before the Government broke that it was a virus with human to human transmission
571 cases 23rd Jan. Wuhan went into lockdown.
11 million residents told to stay put but not to worry. Be calm.
It was nearly the end of January before the Government broke that it was a virus with human to human transmission
571 cases 23rd Jan. Wuhan went into lockdown.
11 million residents told to stay put but not to worry. Be calm.
They said it was not as serious as SARS.
But it was much more transmissible and Wuhan’s hospital were overwhelmed.
One Wuhan central hospital received 1500 in a single days.
They could not cope. They had insufficient equipment and staff.
But it was much more transmissible and Wuhan’s hospital were overwhelmed.
One Wuhan central hospital received 1500 in a single days.
They could not cope. They had insufficient equipment and staff.
So many people died.
A year later the Chinese Government say just 4635 people died of Covid. I doubt that is accurate.
The Chinese Gov claims that at all stages they kept the world informed.
A year later the Chinese Government say just 4635 people died of Covid. I doubt that is accurate.
The Chinese Gov claims that at all stages they kept the world informed.
No. They really did not although it is also true that other Governments, inc,using our own, failed to act when warned.
Now we have over 2.2 million dead of Covid. An undercount.
And still climbing.
Now we have over 2.2 million dead of Covid. An undercount.
And still climbing.
BBC2 is going to do a similar 56 days on America.
Worth noting that whilst they had no solid confirmation of a new virus, analysis of satellite images suggested Wuhan hospitals were getting far more patients each day even in October and November
An intelligence report https://twitter.com/fascinatorfun/status/1356405519393705986
Worth noting that whilst they had no solid confirmation of a new virus, analysis of satellite images suggested Wuhan hospitals were getting far more patients each day even in October and November
An intelligence report
https://twitter.com/fascinatorfun/status/1356405519393705986
