Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization, attends a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on January 28, 2020 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Naohiko Hatta - Pool/Getty Images)

Last December, as the novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, local officials and Chinese Communist Party leadership began suppressing public awareness of the virus. Medical professionals were subjected to forced confessions of "hoaxes," hospitals were ordered to destroy evidence, and online censors blocked terms alluding to the virus.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization praised China's response to the virus and shared false information about the supposedly minimal risk of human-to-human transmission. Rather than serve as an early warning system for the world, the WHO contributed to delays in global preparedness for a crisis that has claimed over 150,000 lives.

To cut through the noise and influence of Chinese state media, we've created a timeline detailing China's coronavirus response and its global impact. Visit our Coronavirus Timeline, and share it on Facebook and Twitter. 

Next week, join us for a conversation on missile defense with Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Soofer, and a discussion with industry leaders on how the pandemic will change manufacturing and technology supply chains in the US.

As always, see our full round-up of analysis on Hudson's coronavirus homepage.

A Timeline of Deadly Deference

Key dates tied to China's coronavirus censorship and the WHO's support of misleading information.

December 1: First cases confirmed in Wuhan

The first coronavirus case now recognized by Chinese authorities is recorded in a Wuhan hospital. Conflicting sources suggest the first confirmed case can be traced back to a 55-year-old Hubei resident on November 17.

December 8: Evidence of human-to-human transmission

The first suspected human-to-human transmission is recorded by Wuhan doctors. A patient is observed to have the virus but denies ever visiting the seafood market. As the month proceeds, Wuhan doctors suspect disease transmission from patients to medical staff.

December 31: Taiwan alerts WHO, China censors virus terms

Taiwanese public health officials warn the WHO that the virus is spreading between humans. The WHO never publicizes the warning.

Chinese social media censors introduce a list of coronavirus-related terms, including “Wuhan unknown pneumonia” and “unknown SARS,” to block from online discussions.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission declares that it has no evidence of human-to-human transmission and informs the WHO of the outbreak.

January 1: China forces confessions

The Wuhan Public Security Bureau summons eight people to its headquarters, including Dr. Li Wenliang, who initially warned the public about the virus, accusing them of spreading “hoaxes.” Dr. Li signs a statement confessing to his “misdemeanor.” The fate of the other seven is unknown. 

January 3: China orders destruction of research and expands censorship

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) orders institutions “not to publish any information related to the unknown disease” and orders labs to “transfer any samples they had to designated testing institutions or to destroy them.” The order did not specify any testing institutions. 

January 5: WHO advises countries against China-directed restrictions

Six days after its China County office was “informed of cases of pneumonia with unknown etiology” in Wuhan, the WHO “advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the information available on this event.” 

January 9: WHO cites CCP talking points on virus transmission

Chinese authorities announce publicly that a novel coronavirus was behind the recent viral pneumonia outbreak. The WHO praises it as “a notable achievement [that] demonstrates China’s increased capacity to manage new outbreaks.” Citing Chinese authorities, the WHO notes “the virus does not spread readily between people” and reiterates its advice against travel or trade restrictions on China. 

January 14: WHO continues citing false CCP talking points

Nearly six weeks after Wuhan doctors raise the possibility of human-to-human transmission, the WHO issues a statement stressing that Chinese authorities recorded no cases of human-to-human transmission. 

January 15: China initiates highest-level emergency response; restricts public knowledge

China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing initiates internally its highest-level emergency response, which includes directions to hospitals to take protective precautions and to begin tracking cases. The directions are marked “not to be publicly disclosed.” 

January 22: WHO continues to downplay global threat after transmission risks made public

A WHO Emergency Committee concludes that the virus does not constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), despite the head of China’s NHC investigatory team confirming human-to-human transmission days earlier. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praises China for its “cooperation” and praises Xi Jinping for his “leadership and intervention.” 

January 27: CCP allows Lunar New Year travel, accelerating global spread

The Chinese government allows several days of massive outbound traffic tied to the Lunar New Year, an action that would have global repercussions. The Chinese government suspends group travel to foreign countries but individual travel remains unrestricted.

January 30: Virus on four continents; WHO continues to advise countries against restricting travel to China

The WHO declares the coronavirus a global health emergency, while expressing confidence in “China’s capacity to control the outbreak.” The WHO still recommends against China-targeted restrictions. By now, the virus has spread across six countries and four continents.

March 11: WHO declares a pandemic

The WHO declares that the outbreak has become a pandemic, noting that there are over 118,000 cases in 114 countries.

Go Deeper: China's COVID-19 Coverup