White House Believes China Underreporting Virus Cases By Over 100,000 As 15th American Fall Sick
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Thu, 02/13/2020
Summary:
Japan reports first virus death
President Xi says China will minimize impact from virus
Chinese leadership scapegoats local officials
Death toll and case count soared last night: There are more than 60k cases worldwide, and more than 1300 deaths
EIA joins OPEC in warning about upcoming drop in oil use, the first in a decade.
HHS Secretary says CDC will announce another confirmed COVID-19 case in US on Thursday
21 people in Spain released from quarantine
US admin reportedly questioning China’s reporting
* * *
Update (1015ET): Following last night’s debacle over China reporting, Fox News’ Edward Lawrence reports that administration sources say they believe China is under reporting the number of coronavirus cases by at least 100,000 in China.
Administration sources say they believe China is under reporting the number of #coronavirus cases by at least 100,000 in China. Also sources say the administration believes China is "severely" under reporting the number of deaths from the virus.
— Edward Lawrence (@EdwardLawrence) February 13, 2020
Additionally, Lawrence notes that administration sources say scientists working on how the coronavirus spread are having difficultly getting to the sight on where the first case happened.
Administration sources say scientists working on how the coronavirus spread are having difficultly getting to the sight on where the first case happened. That could help scientists determine if it's spread by contact or also airborne. #Coronavirus
— Edward Lawrence (@EdwardLawrence) February 13, 2020
We suepect Chinese authorities will do their best to keep any “help” from the west at arm’s length for fear of discovering the truth behind this deadly outbreak.
* * *
Update (0950ET): Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday morning that the CDC is preparing to announce another confirmed coronavirus case in the US later in the day. That would be the 15th case in the US.
The announcement hit US stocks just minutes after the open.
In Europe, CNN reports that 21 Spaniards who returned from Wuhan on an evacuation flight have been released from Gomez Ullah Hospital in Madrid. The Spanish Health Ministry said the individuals had finished their quarantine stretches.
* * *
Update (0915ET): Even China’s state-controlled press is beginning to sound alarmist as it becomes increasingly clear that the epidemic is anything but ‘contained’.
How contagious is the deadly #coronavirus? It could take a mere 2 seconds for someone to contract it in areas with high concentration of the virus if they're not wearing protective gear: Wang Guiqiang, doctor of infectious diseases in Beijing. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/NxhsXjqXhO
— The Business Source (@GlobalTimesBiz) February 13, 2020
Meanwhile China’s CDC has reportedly declared ‘War Time Status’ to authorize war-time conditions on quarantine, supplies, management and, of course, control & discipline.
War Time Status Declared by #Beijing CDC to ensure wartime standards for enforcement of awareness, quarantine, material supply, management and control, disciplines, etc. #COVID2019 #Coronavirus #武汉肺炎 #新冠肺炎
北京市疾控中心党委发布战时状态令https://t.co/2P7lgQcpy4— 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 13, 2020
if you thought the lockdowns were bad, it looks like Beijing is about to get pretty creative as it tries to walk the balance of pushing the public to get back to worked and protecting them from the virus.
In Xiaogan, in Hubei Province, two young men were forced to kneel in the street after violating restrictions of traveling outside.
In Xiaogan ,Hubei , young men forced to kneel on the street because they should not go out, one of the many scenes in #China during #CoronavirusOutbreak #COVID19 湖北孝感,出门乱跑当街罚跪。#武汉肺炎 #新冠肺炎 #新冠病毒 pic.twitter.com/FfFzOVp4Cm
— 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 13, 2020
Reuters adds that Huanggang, another city in Hubei, that it will tighten epidemic controls by “sealing residential complexes and only allowing essential vehicles on roads.”
Patients quarantined in China’s hospital jails are clearly hoping that their patriotic socialist principles of valuing the common good over individual liberty will see China through.
这个快恶心死我了。真是嫌他们死得不够快吗?#武汉肺炎 #新冠肺炎 #新冠病毒 https://t.co/XYI8szVo8Z
— 曾錚 Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 13, 2020
In other news, the EIA warned earlier that the COVID-19 outbreak would cause the first drop in oil use in a decade.
Chart showing changes in world oil demand since the outbreak of the new #coronavirus in Chinahttps://t.co/ai4lYMLdKH pic.twitter.com/nvmMzu1Ydp
— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 13, 2020