'The administration is clearly grasping for anything it can to distract from its own poor performance,' says JeremyKonyndyk, a leading critic of Trump’s coronavirus response
From left, WHO officials Dr. Maria D Van Kerkhove, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Professor Didier Houssin, and Dr. Michael Ryan on January 23, after an emergency committee meeting over the novel coronavirus. Photo: Pierre Albouy/AFP via Getty Images We’re committed to keeping our readers informed.
The information WHO received from China, we now know, was somewhat misleading and incomplete. The thing that has gotten WHO in hot water the most seems to be a tweet from January 14, where they said, “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission.” Right there, you’ve got that hedged in two ways.
Trump’s motives aside, is there legitimacy to the core complaint that WHO has been uncritical, at least publicly, of China? The lab thing is a useful target for them because it can’t be disproven. We will probably never know with 100 percent certainty whether this was a natural spillover or a lab spillover. But what we can say is, the fact that you can’t disprove one or the other doesn’t mean that they are equally plausible. The natural spillover is drastically more plausible than a lab spillover scenario.
Iraq having weapons is very different from proof of an accident in China. We’re not going to war over it. So what purpose does it serve?
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Here's why coronavirus testing is so importantIndividual missteps compounded upon each other when it mattered most put the United States well behind on Covid-19 testing. They included genuine fumbles, an overly restrictive testing policy and overly optimistic assurances.
Read more »
Crony Capitalism: Why The Best-Connected Businesses Got Much Of The SBA Coronavirus CashThe paycheck protection program was meant to help struggling small businesses hit by COVID-19. Instead, a lot of the money went to those with the best relationships — not the neediest or most deserving.
Read more »
Why you haven't received your coronavirus stimulus check yetThe IRS is sending out additional rounds of stimulus payments each week. Those with direct deposit will receive their checks sooner than those who are getting a paper check in the mail.
Read more »
Why Turkey stands out in its fight against the coronavirus pandemicA strong public health care infrastructure, indigenous technology, and swift preemptive action have helped Turkish officials avoid scenarios similar to other countries.
Read more »
Why Hong Kong Is Extending Coronavirus Restrictions – Even as Cases Dwindle to ZeroWhy Hong Kong Is Extending Coronavirus Restrictions – Even as New Cases Dwindle to Zero
Read more »
In a Crisis, Radio Should Be Bigger Than Ever -- So Why Isn't It?Terrestrial music stations have a major cultural opportunity right now, but employees say a muddied strategy is standing in the way
Read more »