Even five years after the initial COVID-19 cases emerged, the World Health Organization continues to document fatalities linked to the virus. With over 3,000 recent deaths and a staggering 7 million total deaths since the onset of the pandemic, the gravity of the situation remains palpable. Circa fall 2019, the media landscape in the U.S. was dominated by headlines concerning China. Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the relationship between the U.S. and China amid ongoing trade negotiations. While tensions brewed in Hong Kong over Chinese influence, Trump supported pro-democracy movements. Meanwhile, at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, researchers were investigating coronaviruses in bats, inadvertently setting the stage for a global health crisis. Amidst the geopolitical maneuvers and scientific pursuits, the emergence of a new viral pneumonia in Wuhan raised alarms. The outbreak, initially linked to a local market, soon revealed unexpected complexities. As the pandemic unfolded, speculations surrounding the virus’s origins persisted, with U.S. intelligence agencies considering both natural and laboratory-associated sources. The notion of a laboratory incident as the catalyst for the first human infection garnered attention from agencies such as the Energy Department, FBI, and CIA.
Humans are prone to errors. Therefore, it is entirely reasonable to consider that another laboratory may have also experienced an accident,” Relman noted. In late December, the Wuhan Institute of Virology successfully isolated and identified the virus from patient samples. Information available to U.S. intelligence officials suggests that this was the first instance where researchers at the institute gained access to the virus’s genetic sequence. Meanwhile, on New Year’s Eve in the U.S., President Trump was optimistic about his negotiations with China at his annual Mar-a-Lago party. “We are very enthusiastic about trade,” the president remarked. “I am planning to visit Beijing at some point to meet with President Xi. We have a strong relationship, and we are looking forward to reciprocal actions.”
Concerns about the new virus were escalating among scientists in Wuhan. A number of individuals with suspected cases were being quarantined at a designated hospital. The World Health Organization was informed through a statement from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, warning of pneumonia of unknown origin. In the early days of 2020, life appeared normal in most parts of the world and China, but the situation in Wuhan was evolving. The Huanan Market had been closed, and WHO officials were closely monitoring the cases.
“There are likely many unreported cases in China, and there are also cases in Hong Kong that have not been disclosed,” pointed out Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute. “The situation in Hong Kong, with the ongoing protests, has led to people staying indoors, creating a quiet atmosphere. However, the fear of contagion remains.”
President Trump’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Commission aimed to address autism and chronic diseases. Despite his previous optimism about a trade deal with China, by the time Trump signed phase one of the agreement, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus had claimed its first victim. “Currently, our relationship with China is at its peak,” Trump expressed during the signing ceremony.
Cases outside of China began to surface, with Thailand and Japan reporting confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2. Subsequently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began screening passengers arriving from Wuhan. “This virus is quite rare, with only a small number of people infected or exposed,” noted Dr. Robert Glatter from Lenox Hill Hospital as the screenings commenced.
In the following days, health officials confirmed the first case in the U.S. in Washington state, reassuring the public that the risk remained low. “We are pleased to report that the patient is in satisfactory condition and is assisting us in identifying potential contacts,” stated Gov. Jay Inslee. More cases emerged in the U.S. and worldwide, leading to the lockdown of Wuhan with its 11 million residents.
While not yet declared a global health emergency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed caution as Wuhan imposed travel restrictions. In a rush to prepare for the lockdown, shoppers hurried to stock up
Due to travel restrictions imposed from China, many citizens were evacuated from the country to prevent further spread of the virus. By mid-February, the death toll from the virus, now known as COVID-19, had reached 1,013, surpassing the number of fatalities during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, which claimed 774 lives. President Trump claimed that the U.S. was well-prepared for epidemics during a press briefing on February 26, 2020, citing significant success in managing the situation. However, Italy emerged as a new hotspot for the virus, leading to over 118,000 reported cases and 4,000 deaths in 114 countries by mid-March. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the need for global cooperation moving forward.
