April 17, 2020: Along Came A Coronavirus:

What are viruses?
A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Simply put, when a virus invades a cell it turns it into a factory to produce copies of itself which then leave the cell to infect other cells. I like to think of viruses as genetic re-programmers. Viral infections cause illness by disrupting cellular function and often are due to our body's battle to get rid of the virus. For example, one natural response is to induce a fever to kill the virus.

Do antibiotics kill viruses?
Antibiotics cannot kill viruses because bacteria and viruses have different mechanisms and machinery to survive and replicate. The antibiotic has no "target" to attack in a virus. However, antiviral medications and vaccines are specific for viruses. So, saying "the virus is so brilliant it's outsmarted antibiotics" has no merit.

The Coronavirus Timeline:

1. 12 December: The earliest onset of symptoms of a pneumonia of unknown aetiology.
2. 18 December: Wuhan Institute of Virology publish report on seven cases with severe pneumonia.
3. 24 December: Wuhan Hospital sample lungs of deliveryman who worked at the Wuhan seafood market.
4. 29 December: Hubei Provincial received three similar cases, all associated with the seafood market.
5. 30 December: Genetic sequencing report from earlier sample mistakenly diagnosed as SARS. Wuhan doctors alerted.
6. 31 December: Wuhan Municipal Health inform WHO of 27 cases of pneumonia. Most were stallholders at seafood market.
7. 01 January:
   • Wuhan seafood market closed for 'cleaning and disinfection'.
   • US CDC director briefed by Chinese counterparts.
   • WHO begins emergencies preparedness... requests further information from the Chinese authorities.
8. 03 January: Chinese National Institute of Viral Disease Control and Prevention determine genetic sequence of novel coronaviruses (Covid-19).
   • Wuhan doctor reprimanded for spreading false "rumors" regarding coronavirus.
   • China formally notified US on the outbreak.
   • White House briefed by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.
   • Mr. Azar alerts National Security Council that "this (the outbreak) is a very big deal."
9. 07 January: The US CDC creates "incident management system", issues notice for travelers to Wuhan, Hubei province.
10. 12 January: WHO is saying "The [Chinese] government reports there is no clear evidence the virus passes easily from person to person."
11. 15 January: The first known travel-related case of 2019 novel coronavirus entered the United States:
    • Patient from Washington state with suspected Covid-19 infection returned from Wuhan.
    • Specimen collected and sent to CDC where laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis.
    • US Embassy in China issues Health Alert Watch Level 1 for outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan.
12. 18 January: Wuhan held annual banquet celebrating the Chinese New Year.
    • Forty thousand families in attendance despite officials' knowledge of spread of the novel coronavirus.
    • When Wuhan mayor was asked why banquet was held he replied,
      "... epidemic limited between humans, so there was not enough warning."
    • US HHS Secretary Alex Azar spoke to President Trump about the virus.
      The President interjected to ask about vaping and when flavored vaping products would be back on the market.
13. 21 to 31 January: The WHO publishes eleven situation reports.
14. 30 January: WHO declares Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
    • Rapid spread of Covid-19 from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
    • All countries should be prepared for containment including...
      "active surveillance, early detection, isolation, contact tracing and prevention."
    • Mr. Azar, Dr. Redfield and Dr. Fauci concur on travel ban from the epidemic's center.
15. 31 January: Trump administration through US HHS declares public health emergency.
    • Mandatory 14-day quarantine for any U.S. citizens who has visited Hubei Province.
    • Non-U.S. nationals denied entry who traveled to China within preceding two weeks.
    • Flights from Europe not banned until March 11...
      Trump Administration officials worried about impact on the U.S. economy.
16. 26 February: VP Pence to lead Coronavirus Task Force, replacing HHS Secretary Azar.
    • First official from White House to coordinate planning and response...
      Two months after the government became aware of the coronavirus.
    • First Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the White House.
17. 29 February: First death from coronavirus in U.S. reported at EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland, WA.
18. Mid March onward: Many states order closure of schools and non-essential businesses... promote social isolation.
19. 16 April: 639,664 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US, with 30,985 confirmed deaths, a 4.8% mortality rate.

Did the CDC, Dept. of HHS, or the WHO fail to act quickly and appropriately? No.

Who authorizes the US contribution to the UN World Health Organization? The US Congress.

Should the WHO have it's US funding suspended? No.