{Editor’s Note: The following is a timeline that documents the events taking place between December 1, 2019, when the first patient of the coronavirus was confirmed, and January 23, 2020, when the city of Wuhan was locked down. The timeline provides a factual base for understanding what the Chinese government knew and what actions it took at different points in time. The source is an article published on the website of China Business Network (第一财经), a media group based in Shanghai. The following is a full translation of the article.} {1}
Special Report: If the Alarm Bell in Wuhan Had a Chance to Ring, What Day Would That Be?
With more media reports on the epidemic of COVID-19 and more extensive and detailed disclosures by national and local governments and health commissions at all levels, more and more critical information and details about the epidemic have begun to surface. Putting them together and connecting them in series, we can get a rough timeline. This timeline will show how the epidemic was discovered in the early days but was ultimately ignored.
The following timeline was compiled by YiMagazine under China Business Network (CBN or Yicai). The starting point is the onset of the first patient in Wuhan on December 1, 2019, and ends with the lockdown of Wuhan on January 23. All the clues are from authoritative media reports, papers published in respective international medical journals, various official disclosures, and remarks made by official institutions.
December 1, 2019
On this day, the Lancet’s epidemiological retrospective investigation shows that the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus pneumonia developed symptoms (with no history of contact with Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan).
December 8, 2019
On this day, the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus pneumonia reported by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission on January 11, 2020, exhibited symptoms.
December 10, 2019
The 6th fatality of the novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan developed symptoms on this day;
The three novel coronavirus cases discussed in the Lancet’s epidemiological retrospective investigation developed symptoms.
December 20, 2019
Medical consumables manufacturer, Winner Medical Co., Ltd., canceled the plan to hold its executive year-end meeting in Hubei Province.
Around December 25, 2019
Lv Xiaohong, Director of the Gastroenterology Department, No. 5 Wuhan Hospital, learned that health care workers at two hospitals in Wuhan had been infected with pneumonia from unknown sources.
December 26, 2019
Dr. Zhang Jixian, Director of The Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, reported the unusual results of the four patients to the hospital authority, and the hospital reported the results to the disease control department of Jianghan District;
The Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center collected samples from patients with unexplained fever from Wuhan Central Hospital and Wuhan Center for Disease Control.
December 29, 2019
The Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine began to report the situation to the provincial, municipal, and district disease control centers;
Hubei Provincial and Wuhan Municipal Health Commissions instructed the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, and the Jianghan District Center for Disease Control to start an epidemiological investigation at the Hubei Province Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital.
December 30, 2019
Eight medical doctors including Li Wenliang, Liu Wen, Xie Linka sent alerts to colleagues via WeChat groups;
A nurse at Hubei Xinhua Hospital developed a mild infection;
Wuhan Institute of Virology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences completed the collection and standardized the deposit of the novel coronavirus samples.
The health departments of Hubei Province and Wuhan City started relevant investigations and a case search;
An internal notice from the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission’s Medical Affairs and Medical Administration Department was shared on the Internet, claiming that “a pneumonia of unknown cause occurred in Wuhan” and was related to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.
December 31, 2019
Wuhan Union Hospital established an isolation area for infectious pulmonary diseases;
A hospital in Wuhan received documentary instructions to identify those who were in close contact with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market;
Extensive disinfection was conducted at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market;
An expert team from the National Health Commission arrived in Wuhan and formally intervened in the investigation;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission hotline responded to YiCai and confirmed that the pneumonia of unknown origin occurred in Wuhan. On the same day, The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that 27 cases of “viral pneumonia” were identified, but it did not find “significant human-to-human transmission” or “infection of medical personnel.”
January 1, 2020
The National Health Commission established a leading group for the epidemic;
The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market was shut down;
Wuhan’s official Weibo account “Pingan Wuhan” released a posting saying eight doctors who had spread rumors were dealt with according to law.
January 2, 2020
A large number of janitors cleaned the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market;
Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, obtained the whole genome sequence of the 2019 novel coronavirus;
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government held an inter-departmental meeting to review preventive measures against the Wuhan pneumonia.
January 3, 2020
Li Yunhua, a CT doctor at Xinhua Hospital of Hubei Province, found 3 cases with unusual CT images;
Wuhan initiated surveillance and case investigations of the viral pneumonia of unknown cause, environmental and animal investigations of the Huanan Seafood Market, and specimen collection;
China informed the United States of the epidemic information and control measures, and notified the World Health Organization (WHO) and neighboring countries of the epidemic;
Passengers flying from Wuhan to Singapore were required to take a body temperature test when they arrived at Singapore Changi Airport;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission reported that 44 cases of “viral pneumonia of unknown cause” were found, but did not find “significant human-to-human transmission” or “infection of medical personnel”;
Doctor Li Wenliang of Wuhan Central Hospital signed a confession and admonition letter at a police station in Wuhan.
January 4, 2020
China’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention developed a PCR test reagent for the novel coronavirus;
The HKSAR Government activated the “serious response” level;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates.
January 5, 2020
The CT results for Dr. Lu Jun, an emergency physician at the Wuhan Tongji Hospital, were found to be abnormal;
WHO issued a press release for the first time on the pneumonia of unknown origin in China;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that a total of 59 cases of “viral pneumonia of unknown cause” were found, but it found no “significant human-to-human transmission” or “infection of medical personnel.”
January 6, 2020
The Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University treated a critically ill patient who had been rejected by multiple hospitals and isolated the patient in the emergency department. At the same time, the ICU was configured, reserving 16 beds for isolated patients;
Lv Xiaohong started to receive many suspected cases in the outpatient department of Wuhan No. 5 Hospital;
Hubei Xinhua Hospital emphasized at an internal staff meeting that one should not make up rumors or spread rumors. The CT image of a respiratory physician who had no contact history with the Huanan Seafood Market was found to be abnormal;
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention initiated a Level II Emergency Response;
The Wuhan Municipal People’s Congress and Wuhan Municipal People’s Political Consultative Conference (Lianghui) started; {2}
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates.
January 7, 2020
Dr. Lu Jun, an emergency physician at Wuhan Tongji Hospital, was diagnosed with the Wuhan pneumonia;
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention successfully separated the first novel coronavirus strain;
The Wuhan Municipal Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates.
January 8, 2020
Experts from the National Health Commission identified the novel coronavirus as the source of the epidemic;
The expert team from the National Health Commission including Wang Guangfa arrived in Wuhan;
The HKSAR government included the Wuhan’s unexplained viral pneumonia as a legally regulated infectious disease;
The Wuhan Municipal Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates.
January 9, 2020
Wuhan had its first death from the novel coronavirus;
The Wuhan Municipal Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates.
January 10, 2020
Li Yunhua, a CT doctor at Hubei Xinhua Hospital of Hubei Province found another 30 cases with abnormal CT images;
The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital admitted 2 patients with respiratory diseases;
The 16 beds in the ICU of Zhongnan Hospital at Wuhan University were full and Peng Zhiyong, Director of Critical Medicine Department, reported that the diagnostic criteria were overly strict;
A doctor at the fever clinic of Huanggang Central Hospital was informed of a suspected case in Huanggang;
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention shared the entire genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus with the World Health Organization and with foreign countries;
Wang Guangfa, an expert from the expert team of the National Health Commission, told the public that there was no infection of medical personnel;
The Wuhan Municipal Lianghui adjourned;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates;
The 2020 national railway Spring Festival transportation officially started;
Dr. Li Wenliang developed symptoms of an infection.
January 11, 2020
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention provided PCR reagent test kits to Wuhan;
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui started;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that a total of 41 confirmed cases of pneumonia with the new-type coronavirus infection had been found, but that no new infection had been found after January 3, and that there was no “significant human-to-human transmission” or “infection of medical personnel”;
CT results showed ground-glass lesions in both of Dr. Li Wenliang’s lungs.
January 12, 2020
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that there were no new confirmed cases;
Li Wenliang was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed on February 1. He passed away on February 7.
January 13, 2020
Three nurses in Wuhan were diagnosed as having pneumonia;
Experts from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan headed to Wuhan to conduct an investigation;
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that there were no new confirmed cases, and Thailand reported one confirmed case.
January 14, 2020
The National Health Commission held a national video conference for the national health system to report the epidemic situation;
Several members of a Huanggang county delegation that attended the Wuhan Conference were admitted to the hospital and two were seriously ill;
A reagent test kit supplier was asked by peers where to buy protective gowns;
Xu Jianguo, an expert from the National Health Commission, told Science magazine that none of the 763 close contacts were infected and that the epidemic was limited and would come to an end the next week if there were no new cases;
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that there were no new confirmed cases and that it did not find clear “human-to-human transmission” but would not rule out “limited human-to-human transmission.”
January 15, 2020
A doctor from Yangtze River Shipping General Hospital was diagnosed with pneumonia;
The National Center for Disease Control and Prevention initiated a Level I Emergency Response;
The National Health Commission issued its first version of the diagnosis and treatment plan;
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that there were no new confirmed cases.
January 16, 2020
The CT results for Dr. Liang Wudong, Director of Otorhinolaryngology, Hubei Xinhua Hospital, were found to be abnormal;
A doctor from Wuhan Asia General Hospital was diagnosed with pneumonia;
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui continued;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced that there were no new confirmed cases.
January 17, 2020
A doctor at an eye hospital in Huanggang received a call from a friend in the central hospital and learned that medical personnel had been infected;
Yuan Guoyong, a member of the high-level expert team of the National Health Commission, reported in writing to Gao Fu, Director of National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and to the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, alerting them to the risk of human-to-human transmission and asymptomatic infection;
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention held a press conference and announced that it would screen Chinese tourists at their point of entry;
The Hubei Provincial Lianghui adjourned;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission did not issue updates.
January 18, 2020
Li Yunhua, a CT doctor at Xinhua Hospital of Hubei Province found another 100 abnormal CT cases;
The expert team of the National Health Commission visited Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, and Peng Zhiyong once again reported that the diagnosis threshold was too high;
Two patients suspected of having an infection of the novel coronavirus pneumonia were treated at the No. 3 Hospital in Shenzhen;
Four medical personnel from 3 hospitals in Wuhan were diagnosed with pneumonia;
The National Health Commission issued the “Diagnosis and treatment guidelines for those infected with the novel coronavirus pneumonia (trial version 2)”;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced four new confirmed cases in the city, and one new confirmed case each in Thailand and Japan.
January 19, 2020
The Baibuting Community of Wuhan held a “Banquet with 10,000 Families”;
Nine medical personnel from Wuhan Union Hospital were diagnosed with pneumonia;
The National Health and Medical Commission established a leading group for the pneumonia epidemic response;
Zhong Nanshan, a member of the high-level expert team of the National Health Commission, concluded an inspection in Wuhan in the afternoon and issued a warning to the public. Hospitals held emergency meetings;
A reagent test kit was created;
The National Health Commission announced that the PCR rapid test kits were released to hospitals, but as of January 22, three designated hospitals in Wuhan had yet to receive the kits;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced 17 new confirmed cases.
January 20, 2020
The State Council agreed to include the novel coronavirus pneumonia in the administration of the Law of Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases and the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law;
During an interview by China Central TV, Zhong Nanshan clearly stated that the new type of coronavirus can be transmitted “from human to human”;
At the county prevention and control meeting, the head of Hunchun County stated that there were 109 cases of “viral pneumonia” in Huanggang City at that time;
Because of an urgent notice, three brands of PCR reagent test kits were allowed to be used;
Three medical personnel in Wuhan were confirmed to have been infected;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced 136 new confirmed cases.
January 21, 2020
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced 15 cases of infection of medical personnel;
Huanggang City in Hubei Province announced four cases of infection of medical personnel;
The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission announced 72 new confirmed cases.
January 22, 2020
China’s National Health Commission released the “Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for the Novel Coronavirus Infected Pneumonia (trial version 3)”;
Hubei Province launched a Level II Emergency Response to Public Emergencies;
The Hubei Provincial Health Commission announced 105 new confirmed cases.
January 23, 2020
Wuhan was put under lockdown, effective at 10 am.
Endnotes:
{1} China Business Network, “Special Report: If the alarm bell in Wuhan had a chance to ring, what day would that be?” February 8, 2020.
https://www.yicai.com/news/100495596.html.
{2} Lianghui, a common Mandarin Chinese abbreviation for the national or local People’s Congress and the national or local committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. It’s a rubber stamp process to show that representatives of the people in the country or in a local region review and approve the work of the central or local government and make decisions on the personnel in the committees of the People’s Congress and the People’s Political Consultative Conference.