Five years after the first cases of COVID-19 were reported, the World Health Organization still reports deaths by the virus.
More than 3,000 people died in the past month, which contributed to the more than 7 million deaths since the pandemic started.
In the fall of 2019, many of the top stories for American news stores had to do with China.
“I have a good relationship with China. We will see what is happening, but I am very happy now,” said President Donald Trump on November 19, 2019 in the midst of commercial negotiations With Beijing. “If we don’t close a deal with China, I will increase the rates even higher.”
New Bat Coronavirus discovered in China Sparks Pandemic Problems
A rapid and persistent increase in Covid-19 cases in the US led millions of people to take precautions while they are in public. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
On the other side of the world, protesters in Hong Kong objected to the interference of China in the region of the region. Trump signed a bill to support the pro-democracy demonstrations. Back in Washington, the beloved Panda of the Smithsonian National Zoo, Bei Bei, was preparing to move to a new Habitat in Central China, but a much bigger story took place in the background.
In the fall of 2019, scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology also studied how mice responded to Sars and MERS-related coronaviruses. A report from the National Intelligence Director noted that the Lab maintains one of the world’s greatest repositories of BAT samples.
It stated: “Teams used transgene mouse models individually to better understand how the viruses infect people, as well as related vaccine and therapeutic research.”
“This laboratory that worked on Bat Coronaviruses Work worked, which at first sight was important for understanding these viruses, but had some risks, “said David Relman, professor in Stanford Microbiology in January 2020.
During that time, various researchers from the institute fell sick with cold or flu -like symptoms, but no one was serious enough to resolve in the hospital.
“Some of their symptoms were consistent with but not diagnostic from COVID-19,” said the intelligence report. The intelligence community also noted that it was unclear whether those diseases were linked to the virus that would soon spread around the world.
By December, the stock market in China on the hope for a trade agreement with the US, but the local economy in Wuhan stood for a major threat. Health officials grew concerned about a new viral pneumonia that did not respond to standard treatments. Twenty -seven cases were confirmed, of which seven were crucial.
Most patients had a recent history of wildlife exposure on the Huanan market, where poultry, snakes, bats and other farm animals were sold. Wuhan -Health officials claimed that the wet market was where the virus was created. However, according to an article by Chinese researchers published in the Lancet, at least 13 of the first 41 hospital admissions had no link to the market.
“That is a large number, 13, without a link,” Daniel Lucey, a specialist in infectious diseases at the University of Georgetown, told science in January 2020. “The virus came on that market before it came from that market.”
New Bat Coronavirus discovered in China Sparks Pandemic Problems
Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump concluded a trade agreement when Covid-19 hit the world. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
All American intelligence services assess both a natural and laboratory-associated origin remain plausible sources of the origin of the virus. The energy department, the FBI and the CIA believe that a laboratory-associated incident was the most likely cause of the first human infection.
“Laboratory accidents happen everywhere where people are. People are fallible. So it is absolutely reasonable to think that another laboratory has also had an accident,” Relman said.
At the end of December, the Wuhan Institute of Virology identified the virus from patient samples. The available information for American intelligence officials indicates that the first time researchers from the Institute had access to the virus’s inquire.
On New Year’s Eve in the US, Trump called his annual Mar-A-Lago party in 2020 and was optimistic about his negotiations with China.
“We are very enthusiastic about trade,” said the president. “At a certain point I go to Beijing, to be with President Xi. We have a great relationship. And we will do something mutually.”
Scientists in Wuhan grew even more concerns about the new virus. Dozens of people with suspected cases were isolated in a designated hospital. The World Health Organisation Was informed by a media statement from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. It warned of pneumonia for an unknown cause.
During the first days of 2020, life all over the world and in most parts of China seemed normal. In Wuhan, however, the Huanan market was closed and officials of the World Health Organization were further considered.
“There are many non -reported things in China. There are also a number of things in Hong Kong that have not been reported,” said Senior Fellow Fellow Gordon Chang of Gatestone Institute Lou Dobbs in January 2020. “What happened in Hong Kong and the protest, people don’t want to go out, so I think that the Fear has been silent.”
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President Donald Trump said his view of a possible trade agreement with China was once optimistic in 2020. (Donald Trump 2024 -Campagne)
What was now called the 2019 -novel Coronavirus had claimed his first victim by time Trump inked Phase one of his trade agreement with China.
“At the moment our relationship with China is the best it has ever been,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.
Cases from outside China gathered now. Thailand and Japan had confirmed cases of SARS-COV-2. Shortly thereafter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started screening passengers on direct and connecting flights from Wuhan.
“The bottom line is that this is a very rare virus. The number of people contaminated or exposed is very small,” said Dr. Robert Glatter from Lenox Hill Hospital.
Days later, health officials confirmed the first American case in the state of Washington, but insisted that the virus was still a low risk to the public.
“We are very happy to say that he is in a satisfactory state and at the moment it is very useful in identifying certain people with whom he may have had contact,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, D-Wa, after the case was announced.
More cases began to accumulate in the US and all over the world. In Wuhan, 11 million people were placed under lockdown orders.
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“It has not yet become a global health case. It can be one more,” said the World Health Organization General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while Wuhan closed his city borders.
Shoppers race to collect essentials before the lockdown officially took place. Roads, train stations and airports were empty. Other locations in China were also closed to the public and Chinese New Year’s celebrations were reduced.
More countries have implemented travel restrictions around the world From China. Many evacuated citizens from the country before the virus spread further.
In mid-February, 1,013 people died of the virus that is now known as COVID-19. It had officially killed more people than the 2002-2003 outbreak, when 774 people died.
The US is “assessed number one” for epidemic readiness, Trump told the White House Reporters on 26 February 2020. “We have been very successful, great success beyond what people would have thought. At the same time, you have a number of outbreaks in some countries. Italy and different countries have problems.”
Italy was the new epicenter for the virus. In mid -March, 114 countries had reported more than 118,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths.
“In the coming days and weeks we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries even higher,” said Ghebreyesus. “We have formed the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. Pandemie is not a word to use light or carelessly.”
