China hid virus severity: US

WASHINGTON: US officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak - and how contagious the disease is - to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, according to intelligence documents.

Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the outbreak from the world in early January, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by AP.

The DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. The report also says China held off informing the WHO that the virus “was a contagion” for January so it could order medical supplies from abroad.

RUMP PROMISES ‘STRONG’ REPORT ON ORIGIN OF VIRUS

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has promised to present a “conclusive” report on the US investigation into China’s handling of the Covid-19 outbreak and the actual origin of the coronavirus. “We’re going to be giving a very strong report as to exactly what we think happened. And I think it will be very conclusive,” the US president said.

“My opinion is that they (China) made a mistake. They tried to cover it, they tried to put it out, just like a fire,” Trump added. The US has disputed the Chinese government’s version of the origin of the virus - from a wet market in Wuhan - and alleged that it came from a virology lab in that city.