Dec. 8, 2019
First case was reported in Wuhan. Wuhan officials insisted it was controlled and treatable
Jan. 10, 2020
Wang Guangfa, a prominent government respiratory Expert, told the state CCTelevision , that the "Wuhan Pneumonia" was "under control " and mostly a "mild Condition." On Jan. 21st he contracted the virus after Doing inspections in Wuhan.
Jan. 14, 2020
World Health Organization (WHO) tweets "Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human to human transmission of the Coronavirus.
That same day, the Wuhan Health Commission's public Bulletin declared. We have not found proof for human to -human transmission.
By that point the Chinese government was offering caveats not included in the WHO tweet. The possibility of limited human-to-human transmission cannot be excluded, "the bulletin said," but the risk of sustained Transmission is low.
Jan. 20, 2020
A Chinese official confirmed for the first time that the virus could indeed be spread among humans and within days the Chinese government locked down Wuhan.
Jan. 20-21
WHO experts from it China and Western Pacific Regional offices conducted a "brief field visit" to Wuhan.
(From WHO Timeline-Covid-19)
Jan. 22, 2020
WHO mission to China issued a statement saying that there was evidence of human-to-human transmission but more investigation was needed to understand the full extent of transmission.
Jan. 23, 2020
WHO's emergency committee was split on whether to declare a Public Health Emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The independent members from around the world could not reach a consensus based on Evidence available at the time. Final authority rested with Dr. Tedros who decided to wait despite admitting that "this is an emergency in China. The Committee asked to be reconvened within 10 days after receiving more information.
Jan. 28, 2020
The WHO Director General Dr. Tedros met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and declared the spread of the virus a "Global Health Emergency" and praised the country's leadership for setting a new standard for out break response.
While in Beijing, Dr. Tedros agreed with Chinese government leaders that a international team of leading Scientists would travel to China on a mission to better understand the context, the overall response, and to exchange information and experience.
Jan. 29, 2020
The White House starts its Corona virus response task force, headed by US Health and Services Secretary Alex Azar, Dr. Anthony Faul, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is appointed to the task force.
Jan. 30, 2020
The WHO Director General reconvened the Emergency Committee. This time the EC reached consensus and Dr. Tedros / WHO declared that COVID-19 constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. (PHEIC)
Jan. 31, 2020
Trump issues and executive order blocking entry to the US from anyone who has been in China in the last 14 days. It does not apply to US residents and family members of US residents or citizens.
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