Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MelissaB

(16,420 posts)
Wed May 6, 2020, 11:12 AM May 2020

China refuses international probe on Covid-19 source until 'final victory' over disease

China will not invite international experts to investigate the source of #COVID19 until after securing the "final victory" over the virus.

The announcements comes despite mounting calls for an independent probe into China’s handling of the outbreak.




China refuses international probe on Covid-19 source until ‘final victory’ over disease

China will not invite international experts to investigate the source of Covid-19 until after securing the "final victory" over the virus, Beijing's UN ambassador in Geneva said Wednesday despite mounting calls for an independent probe into China’s handling of the outbreak.


China's priority is first beating the pandemic -- and then countering what Chen Xu called the "absurd and ridiculous" US politicisation of the coronavirus crisis, he added in an online press briefing.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is waiting on an invitation from China to take part in its investigations into the animal origins of the virus, first reported in the city of Wuhan in December.

The revelation came amid a growing international backlash against China’s “wolf warrior” diplomats, who have launched an aggressive push-back against governments calling for an independent investigation into the outbreak that has killed more than 250,000 people across the world and plunged economies into a global recession.

... snip

Over the weekend, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was "enormous evidence" showing that the new coronavirus originated in the Wuhan lab.

China on Wednesday once again hit back at Pompeo’s claims, saying he "doesn't have any" evidence.

More: https://www.france24.com/en/20200506-china-refuses-international-probe-on-covid-19-source-until-final-victory-over-disease?ref=tw_i




3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
China refuses international probe on Covid-19 source until 'final victory' over disease (Original Post) MelissaB May 2020 OP
This should be expected. Worried2020 May 2020 #1
And on 1/5 the WHO said Igel May 2020 #3
So they're basically taking the same stance the USA would take if the situation were reversed mr_lebowski May 2020 #2

Worried2020

(444 posts)
1. This should be expected.
Wed May 6, 2020, 11:39 AM
May 2020


After the witch-hunt that resulted in Iraq being falsely accused of possession WMD's, the "coalition" instigated by the USA invaded it, slaughtering 100's of thousands.


Another thing - I don't think China will ever let ANYONE go in and poke around in the near future.

We're sorta known for finding"evidence" to advance our own agendas.

China notified the WHO in December . . . .

I believe we just really fucked up, missed the boat, whatever,

and trying to blame our shortcomings on someone else.

We're good at that, too

(sigh)

W

Igel

(35,197 posts)
3. And on 1/5 the WHO said
Wed May 6, 2020, 11:56 AM
May 2020
The causal agent has not yet been identified or confirmed.

Based on the preliminary information from the Chinese investigation team, no evidence of significant human-to-human transmission and no health care worker infections have been reported.

There is limited information to determine the overall risk of this reported cluster of pneumonia of unknown etiology. The reported link to a wholesale fish and live animal market could indicate an exposure link to animals.

Based on information provided by national authorities, WHO’s recommendations on public health measures and surveillance of influenza and severe acute respiratory infections still apply.

WHO does not recommend any specific measures for travellers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share travel history with their healthcare provider.

WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the current information available on this event.

https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/

This has been quoted as saying there *was* significant transmission and that countries should be on special lookout with special precautions. It doesn't say that. It says "same-old/same-old." The recommendations "still apply" even in the first mention of this disease. Because the recommendations apply to any respiratory illness, and follows on warnings about influenza. And it's travelers to look out for, but just get their travel information in case.

Those countries who were successful locked down travel from Wuhan/Hubei before 1/5, contrary to the WHO, and assumed that there was significant human-to-human transmission--that infection wasn't linked to animal exposure (that's not talking origin of the virus, that's talking origin of the infections. Taiwan, reports are, told the WHO that there was evidence of significant human-to-human transmission in December. The virus' genome was also apparently provisionally determined in December.

Hindsight's a great thing. And for some, it's necessary to defend one bad guy to make another look even worse.

Then there are things in hindsight like the un-peer-reviewed https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.24.20026682v1 (feidian is apparently the usual shorthand for SARS).
 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
2. So they're basically taking the same stance the USA would take if the situation were reversed
Wed May 6, 2020, 11:53 AM
May 2020

Hardly that surprising.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»China refuses internation...