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China Hid Coronavirus’ Severity 39

China hid coronavirus'

severity to hoard supplies

by Will Weissert

WASHINGTON -- U.S. 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, intelligence documents show.

Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the
severity" of the pandemic from the world in
early January, according to a four-page
Department of Homeland Security report dated
May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press.
The revelation comes as the Trump
administration has intensified its criticism of
China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
saying Sunday that China was responsible for
the spread of disease and must be held 20 Mother's Day Facts to Federation, this Mother's Day, people will spend
accountable. $2 billion on personal services (like spa
Share With Your Mom treatments) for their mothers.

The sharper rhetoric against China coincides
with administration critics saying the Continued from Page 37 20 - Moms aren't the only ones getting
government's response to the virus was Mother's Day love.
inadequate and slow. President Donald Trump's 13 - The most popular gift for Mother's Day The average American buys 2.8
political opponents have accused the president is the greeting card. Mother’s Day cards, so most people are buying
and his administration of lashing out at China, a more than just one for their mom. Many people
Every Mother's Day there are
geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in approximately 173 million Mother's Day cards opt to buy Mother's Day cards for grandmothers,
an attempt to deflect criticism at home. sent. sisters, and their mother-in-law. []

The analysis states that, while downplaying the 14 - Carnations have a special meaning on
severity of the coronavirus, China increased COVID-19 affects different
Mother's Day.
imports and decreased exports of medical Anna Reeves Jarvis used the carnation people in different ways. Most
supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by on Mother's Day to symbolize whether your infected people will develop mild
"denying there were export restrictions and mother was living. A red carnation meant she to moderate symptoms.
obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade was, and a white meant she had passed.
data," the analysis states.
Common symptoms:
15 - Mother's Day is celebrated all over the
The report also says China held off informing world. • fever.
the World Health Organization that the Albeit on different days. But in addition • tiredness.
coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of to the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Costa Rica, • dry cough.
January so it could order medical supplies from • Some people may experience:
Samoa, Georgia, Australia, and Thailand all
abroad -- and that its imports of face masks and have designated celebrations to honor their • aches and pains.
surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. country's mothers. • nasal congestion.
• runny nose.
Those conclusions are based on the 95% 16 - 36% of Americans plan to buy their mom
probability that China's changes in imports and • sore throat.
jewelry.
export behaviour were not within normal range, However, flowers still remain the most • diarrhoea.
according to the report. popular gift option, with about 69% of

Americans opting for a floral present. Why not On average it takes 5–6 days
Trump has speculated that China could have get mom both? from when someone is infected
unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of
horrible "mistake." His intelligence agencies say 17 - Some countries still observe ancient with the virus for symptoms to
they are still examining a notion put forward by festivals honoring mothers. show, however it can take up to
the president and aides that the pandemic may In India, people celebrate Durga-puja, a 14 days.
have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. festival that pays homage to the mother goddess,
Durga. The festival is a ten-day event that takes People with mild symptoms who
Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," place around September or October.
Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the are otherwise healthy should self-
isolate.
virus was deliberately spread. But he added, 18 - Most United States women have their
"Remember, China has a history of infecting the first child in their twenties.
world, and they have a history of running Seek medical attention if you
In 2017, the average age for a first-time
substandard laboratories." [] mother in the United States was 26.8. have a fever, a cough, and
difficulty breathing. Call 911
STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, STAY 19 - Beauty salons and spas also get a
HOME Mother's Day boost. www.canada.ca / www.cdc.us
Comply with Social Distancing According to the National Retail