Donald Trump’s remarks to Bob Woodward about deliberately downplaying the threat posed by COVID19 are still on a lot of people’s lips today. And understandably so.
But it’s important to remember, in the midst of all the hubbub, how we got to this point in the first place.
In an extremely valuable thread, radiologist and conservative writer Pradheep Shanker painstakingly documents every important step along the path to the current pandemic.
So, it appears a lot of people simply want to forget the sequence of events on COVID/Coronavirus.
Its highly inconvenient to admit who really prevented the world from reacting properly to this scourge.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
It may be inconvenient, but it’s essential.
SPOILER: It’s China https://t.co/A5bnRQ4R2w
— I did not and will not vote for him. Calm down. (@jtLOL) September 10, 2020
China’s certainly got a starring role. But in the interest of the whole truth, let’s see the receipts:
The first cases of COVID19 now appear to have been showing up in Hubei Province in LATE NOVEMBER 2019.
The Chinese at that point didn’t realize what they had on their hands. But even then they suspected a new SARS like outbreak. #COVIDTimeline
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 6
China reported the first case with documented date of symptoms. https://t.co/lyGkE29BWG
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 21
China reports an entire cluster of cases with similar symptoms, starting at a fish market in Wuhan.https://t.co/z8YJJbxJ1W
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 21
Almost immediately, Wuhan hospitals notice an exponential increase in cases. https://t.co/Y9rcnEue4J
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 25
The first sign that this was communicable with human-to-human transmission.
Note China has still not reported it to the WHO or CDC (they had agreements after SARS to report to both).https://t.co/31uBnO93oK
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 31
Dr. Li Wenliang sent a group messages warning about a new virus.
He would later die from the disease. https://t.co/5uyAVZqYsh
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 31
The very same day, the WHO reports its first sign of the virus.
Note that this was NOT an official message from the Chinese, but was informally received. The Chinese govt still has not reported this to the WHO. https://t.co/Gmh3Ohz6Vv
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
December 31
Again, on the same day, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission goes public and states…there are no human-to-human transmissions (this is now a documented lie). https://t.co/RiyTJuwTrB
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 1
Wuhan authorities accuse Dr. Li Wenliang (mentioned above) of “spreading rumors”, and later force him to apologize for…telling the truth.
Several others are arrested for the same. https://t.co/nqOHZL4k27
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 1
Just to tell you how widespread the knowledge that this was spreading and a threat…at this point, almost 200,000 people leave Wuhan to other points in China.
Some fly overseas.
Worldwide seeding begins in earnest. https://t.co/1XERYqtv4W
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 2
A Chinese study shows only about 2/3 of the cases are connected to the fish market; more proof that there is human to human transmission.
Chinese govt…still silent. https://t.co/lyGkE29BWG
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 3
The CCP puts out a memorandum that all info on COVID should be hidden, or destroyed. https://t.co/YdwpEEdvVz
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 3
CDC Director Redfield gets an informal call from a Chinese colleague warning him of the virus. This is first documented case where a Western official was informed.
On the same day, Wuhan again states there is no human to human transmission.https://t.co/BteYRhfkaF
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 4
Hong Kong authorities, not directly under the purview of the CCP, warn city leaders that they think the virus is spreading. https://t.co/q78RD6d8jJ?
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 6
New York Times first report on the virus. https://t.co/RystE0HuEz
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 6
CDC sends a team to be on the ground in Wuhan. CCP refuses to allow them on the ground. CDC team in country has been refused access all along.
CDC also issues a level 1 (low level) travel watch for China. https://t.co/1j90XdC6Jf
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 8
Wuhan continues to deny transmission.
On that date, the WHO…parrots the entire line from the Chinese, without any independent data. https://t.co/PGaIIgLGin
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 10
China still denies community spread.
Chinese doctors document numerous cases of family transmission, proving…there is community spread. https://t.co/1Nsw1N9hm1
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 13
First international documented case, of a Chinese traveler in Thailand.
Japan reports a case 2 days later.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 15
Wuhan now says they can’t prove community spread…but say they can’t rule it out.
Remember, this is a full month after they documented community spread. https://t.co/FtKoH2geeM
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 17
The CDC and DHS, not believing denials from WHO and China, declare strict screening for all travelers from Wuhan.
Quickly, cries of racism flourish in US and Europe over this targeting. https://t.co/Sonrsd4Wjm
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 18
Wuhan authorities let 40,000 people come together for the annual Lunar New Year Banquet.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 21
CDC announces first US case.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 22
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus continued to praise China’s handling of the outbreak.https://t.co/DQTPrave0u
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 22
That same day, WHO delegation concludes that human to human transmission is occurring. WHO doesn’t report it.
Trump also downplays it as ‘controllable’. https://t.co/vhvMc8gHgI
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 23
Chinese start imposing a quarantine on Wuhan and Hubei.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 24
The virus is seen in various cities around the US.
About this time, the Mayor of Florence, Italy, recommends that residents hug Chinese people to encourage them in their fight against COVID (I kid you not). https://t.co/oXzjxhrt7Z
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
January 31
WHO finally, after 6 weeks, issues a Global Health Emergencyhttps://t.co/nQQdnZYTWx
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
February 4
Under harsh criticism from the Europeans (and some American legislators) Trump imposes restrictions on travel from the EU (excluding UK). https://t.co/GTyCLl5mfO
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
February 3
WHO took 50 days to declare a health emergency. Three days later, the US declares one. https://t.co/EPdtC5I3l3
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
February 25
CDC declares that COVID is nearing a pandemic level. https://t.co/SXZYNkBxEW
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
But Democrats assured us that there was nothing to worry about.
February 25
The day before, Nancy Pelosi (who received a CDC briefing a week earlier) travels around Chinatown without social distancing or a mask, and declares all is well. https://t.co/V737X0HMHE
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
March 3
Governor Andrew Cuomo travels the subway without mask and social distancing, says it is safe.
Note he received a CDC briefing 2 weeks prior. https://t.co/rOwq7Qm7Qj
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
March 5
Mayor DeBlasio travels the subways without mask or social distancing, says it is safe. https://t.co/JaERNhgkBi
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
These are the same people screeching today about Donald Trump not being honest with Americans about the dangerous nature of COVID19.
Mid-March
Things start moving very quickly. Ohio is among the first to close schools. New York, Michigan, etc follow quickly after.
Shutdowns begin. https://t.co/G1wlwY9V6s
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
March 17
Administration starts talking about PPP, Emergency stimulus, etc.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
March 19
Newsom quickly acts, imposes a statewide stay-at-home order.https://t.co/UeKwyxjaC7
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
March 27
Trump signs the Congressionally approved CARES act. https://t.co/eXm0Mo7phK
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
March 30
FDA authorizes HCQ. https://t.co/ChIASOtKA6
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
May 1
FDA authorizes Remdesivir for EUA. https://t.co/Hik9qIhhxq
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
May 21
US signs first vaccine deal with AstraZeneca (a vaccine which is now on hold).
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
May 28
Deaths pass 100,000 mark.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
June 10
US COVID cases passes 2 million.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
June 18
WHO ends HCQ study. Most studies show no real benefit.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
June 22
A study suggest that 80% of cases in the first wave in NY, NJ, MI were undetected (important when you put into context into later waves). https://t.co/2Flf1u3mqM
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
July 10
US setting new daily records for cases, nearing 70k. South getting hit hard. Deaths still not peaking.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
Peak daily deaths (approx)
NY 4/14
NJ 4/18
MI 4/14
LA 4/18
IL 5/13
AZ 7/30
TX 7/31
FL 8/4
CA 8/6
GA 8/11— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
Deaths/Million Population pic.twitter.com/TIJykoSJFX
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
Does some of the blame for the havoc wreaked by COVID19 in America lie with Donald Trump? One could certainly make a convincing argument.
I’m going to do a followup thread on where I think the Trump administration failed. Just dont’ have time at the moment.
— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) September 10, 2020
But to overlook the media’s role, the Democrats’ role, the WHO’s role, and — above all — China’s role in the pandemic is to examine this crisis through an incomplete, dishonest lens.
Editor’s note: Dr. Shanker’s first name was initially misspelled in the headline and text of this post. We have corrected the mistake and apologize for the error.
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