Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) ***W.H.O. DECLARES A GLOBAL PANDEMIC***

Soon after the coronavirus infected first human in late 2019, China's government systematically hid key facts about the contagion and detained a doctor who tried to warn the public. The chronology begins here.

January
Jan. 4: Head of University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Infection warns “the city should implement the strictest possible monitoring system for a mystery new viral pneumonia that has infected dozens of people on the mainland, as it is highly possible that the illness is spreading from human to human."

Jan. 6: CDC issues "level 1 travel watch, the lowest of its three levels, for China’s outbreak"

Jan. 8: WHO: “Preliminary identification of a novel virus in a short period of time is a notable achievement and demonstrates China’s increased capacity to manage new outbreaks."

Jan. 11: China reports 1st death.

Jan. 14: The WHO: “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus identified in Wuhan, China.” Meanwhile, according to The AP, internal Chinese documents show that government officials acknowledged likely human-to-human transmission of coronavirus, and said they were following orders from the president of China.

Jan. 15: Trump and China sign "phase one" of a trade deal.

Jan. 17: CDC and the Homeland Security announce that travelers into the U.S. from Wuhan will undergo new screening at airports.

Jan. 19: The WHO hedges somewhat: “Not enough is known to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, the clinical features of the disease, the extent to which it has spread, or its source, which remains unknown."

Jan. 22: Trump responds to whether he's concerned about a possible pandemic, “No. Not at all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine."

Jan. 23: FRANKTHETANK: PEOPLE ARE FALLING DEAD ON STREETS OF WUHAN!

Vox publishes article stating travel bans to fight viruses "don't work." The article initially referred to the "Wuhan coronavirus," before being edited weeks later.

China seals off Wuhan.

Jan. 24: Trump tweets in praise of China’s “transparency."

Jan. 27: The Biden campaign, including its top coronavirus adviser Ron Klain, praise China for being “transparent” and “candid." Speaking to Axios, Klain asserts: "I think what you'd have to say about China is, it's been more transparent and more candid than it has been during past outbreaks, though still there's problems with transparency and candor." Even as he says there were "many" areas in which China hasn't been transparent, Klain says China had helpfully released a "sequence of the virus." Klain says there wasn't "any reason" for anyone to postpone essential travel to anywhere except the Wuhan area.

Jan. 28: 3 days before Trump closes off most travel from China, Klain says he opposes that measure.

Jan. 30: CNN publishes piece entitled, "Coronavirus task force another example of Trump administration's lack of diversity."

WHO declares global health emergency. State Department issues advisories against traveling to China.

Jan. 31: Trump issues "Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus." Later in the day, Biden campaigns in Iowa and says Americans “need to have a president who they can trust what he says about it, that he is going to act rationally about it. This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysteria and xenophobia – hysterical xenophobia – and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science.”

Also in the wake of the ban on Jan. 31:

Article in NYT quotes epidemiologist Dr. Osterholm as saying Trump's decision to restrict travel from China was "more of an emotional or political reaction."
Washington Post runs story quoting a Chinese official asking for "empathy" and slamming the White House for acting "in disregard of WHO recommendation against travel restrictions."
Vox tweets: "Is this going to be a deadly pandemic? No." The tweet was deleted weeks later.
Death counts indicated that 213 people had died and nearly 10,000 had been infected.

February
Feb. 2: "There's a virus that has infected 15 million Americans across the country and killed more than 8,200 people this season alone," CNN tweets. "It's not a new pandemic — it's influenza."

Meanwhile, NYC Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot tweets: “As we gear up to celebrate the #LunarNewYear in NYC, I want to assure New Yorkers that there is no reason for anyone to change their holiday plans, avoid the subway, or certain parts of the city because of #coronavirus."

Feb. 5: Over 5,000 passengers on 2 cruise ships in Asia are ordered into quarantine. Worldwide death toll reaches 490.

Feb. 7: Barbot: "We’re telling New Yorkers, go about your lives, take the subway, go out, enjoy life."

Feb. 9: Mark Levine, chair of NYC Council health committee and a Democrat, tweets: "In powerful show of defiance of #coronavirus scare, huge crowds gathering in NYC's Chinatown for ceremony ahead of annual #LunarNewYear parade. Chants of 'be strong Wuhan!' If you are staying away, you are missing out!"

Feb. 11: Klain, the Biden adviser, remarks that the evidence "suggests" the coronavirus won't be a "serious pandemic."

Feb. 13: "There are ZERO confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City, and hundreds of Chinese restaurants that need your business!" the NYC mayor's office tweets. "There is nothing to fear. Stop by any Chinatown for lunch or dinner!"

Feb 14: France announces Europe's 1st death.

Feb. 18: Trump states: "I think President Xi is working very hard.

Feb. 19: Iran reports 2 coronavirus cases. Hundreds of passengers leave the Diamond Princess.

Feb. 23: Infections surge in Italy and South Korea; authorities in Italy begin locking down towns.

Feb. 24: “It’s exciting to be here, especially at this time, to be able to be unified with our community,” Nancy Pelosi tells reporters as she visits San Francisco's Chinatown. “We want to be vigilant about what is out there in other places. We want to be careful about how we deal with it, but we do want to say to people ‘Come to Chinatown, here we are — we're, again, careful, safe — and come join us.'”

Feb. 24, the White House submits a request to Congress for $2.5 billion to help combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Feb. 29: 1st U.S. death is confirmed in Washington.

March
Mar. 4: Barbot declares, “There’s no indication that being in a car, being in the subways with someone who’s potentially sick is a risk factor."

Mar. 9: Bernie Sanders says he would not close the border, even if it were necessary to halt the spread of coronavirus. He then attacked Trump's "xenophobia."

Mar. 11: Trump blocks most travel from Europe.

Mar. 13: "Since I’m encouraging New Yorkers to go on with your lives + get out on the town despite Coronavirus, I thought I would offer some suggestions," NYC Mayor de Blasio tweets. "Here’s the first: thru Thurs 3/5 go see 'The Traitor'. If 'The Wire' was a true story + set in Italy, it would be this film."

Meanwhile, Trump declares national emergency, authorizing $50 billion.

Mar. 17: France imposes nationwide lockdown. EU leaders agree to mostly seal off the bloc for 30 days.

Mar. 23: Britain imposes nationwide lockdown.

Mar. 24: India imposes nationwide lockdown.

Mar. 27: Senior WHO official cuts off an interview after a reporter implies Taiwan, which is not a WHO member state, is independent of China.

Trump signs a $2 trillion stimulus bill.

Mar. 30: Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. issue stay-at-home orders, joining other states. In all, approximately 265 million Americans are now under indefinite lockdown.