Caixin reported that, in late December, several institutes in China found that the Wuhan pneumonia was caused by a SARS-like virus, but the National Health Commission didn’t share the information until 15 days later.
On December 27, 2019, Vision Medicals in Guangzhou became the first known company to detect the genome. Around the same time, a few other gene testing companies, including CapitalBio MedLab in Beijing and the industry’s leader Beijing Genomics Institute, had obtained samples from Wuhan Hospitals. Their test results were all reported back to the hospitals and to the Health Commission and to disease control organs.
The National Health Commission, however, did not share the novel coronavirus genome information until January 11. Prior to that, the National Health Commission issued its “No 3 Order” requesting institutes and individuals who had obtained the biological samples to destroy them immediately or to submit them to the officials for storage and not to release any testing information. A staff member from a gene testing company said that the Hubei Provincial Health Commission also gave such an order over the phone.
Caixin is a Beijing-based media group providing financial and business news and information. It was founded in 2010 by Hu Shuli (胡舒立), who was known for her outspoken style.
Related postings on Chinascope:
- Lack of Action: Official Documents in Early January Showed the Government Was Aware of the “SARS-Like” Pneumonia
- Lack of Action: Both Central and Local Government Didn’t Do Enough
- Lack of Action: “Voice of China” Internally Reported Up About Coronavirus on Jan 1
Excerpt in Chinese:
种种证据显示，在去年12月底之前，已有多家机构通过基因测序发现病原体是一种类SARS冠状病毒：已知的首例基因测序在12月27日由第三方微远基因完成，与该公司几乎前后脚，还有数家基因检测公司从武汉医院获得了不明肺炎病例样本，包括北京博奥医学检验所、行业“龙头”华大基因。这些检测结果陆续回馈医院并上报给了卫健委和疾控系统。
病原体初步确定，信息何时公开？1月9日，央视报道中央相关专家组定名病原体为“新型冠状病毒”，1月11日，国家卫健委宣布共享新冠病毒基因序列信息，但此时距第一例基因测序确定新冠病毒，已经过去15天。在此之前，国家卫健委办公厅曾发布“3号文件”，要求已获得相关病例生物样本的机构和个人立即销毁样本或送交保管，不得擅自对外发布检测信息。某基因测序公司人士称，湖北省卫健委也以电话形式传达了上述要求。
Source: Caixin, February 27, 2020
http://china.caixin.com/2020-02-27/101521041.html