timeline
Jan. 20: The first human-to-human transmission was reported by a Chinese expert
Jan 22 Trump "we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine."
Jan 23, Chinese authorities implemented a strict nationwide travel ban, but allowed International flights.
Jan 24
Bill de Blasio “We urge all New Yorkers to continue to pursue their everyday activities and routines”
Jan 25
Good Morning America
"People should be more concerned right now with the flu in this country."
Jan 26: New York City’s health commissioner, Dr. Oxiris Barbot “We are encouraging New Yorkers to go about their everyday lives... those “who had recently traveled from Wuhan were not being urged to self-quarantine or avoid large public gatherings.”
Jan. 30: The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern
Feb 1: President Trump instilled China travel ban. New York City had its first suspected case of coronavirus
Feb 2 NYC health commissioner Bardot “As we gear up to celebrate the Lunar New Year in NYC, I want to assure New Yorkers that there is no reason for anyone to change their holiday plans, avoid the subway, or certain parts of the city because of coronavirus.”
Feb 4
China’s consul general in New York, Huang Ping, thanked the Chinese-American community and other concerned Americans on Tuesday for their aid in battling the coronavirus outbreak, and criticized what he described as “an overreaction by the American government in severely restricting travel to and from China.”
Feb 5: New York Times "Who says it's not safe to travel to China? The coronavirus travel ban is unjust and doesn't work anyway." NYC Health Commissioner Barbot on Twitter, “Today our city is celebrating the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown... I want to remind everyone to enjoy the parade and not change any plans due to misinformation spreading about coronavirus.”
Feb 6 Bardot: “The important thing for New Yorkers to know is that in the city currently, their risk is low and our city preparedness is high...We’re telling New Yorkers, go about your lives, take the subway, go out, enjoy life. . . If it were likely that it could be transmitted casually, we would be seeing a lot more cases.”
Feb 9: Chinatown in New York City held its annual Lunar New Year parade. Surgical masks were nearly absent from this parade. Councilman Mark D. Levine on Twitter, “In powerful show of defiance of coronavirus scare, huge crowds gathering in NYC’s Chinatown for ceremony ahead of annual Lunar New Year parade. Chants of ‘Be Strong Wuhan!’ If you are staying away, you are missing out.”
Feb 12 The House Judiciary Committee on voted, 22-10, to terminate President Trump's expanded travel ban and rein in presidential authority to issue such travel restrictions.
Feb 13: New York City Council speaker Corey Johnson “It is important to support the Chinese community in New York City...There is no need to avoid public spaces. I urge everyone to dine and shop as usual.” Bill de Blasio
"This should not stop you from going about your life. It should not stop you from going to Chinatown and going out to eat. I am going to do that today myself.”
Feb 25: Dr. Anthony Fauci “You need to do nothing different than you’re already doing"
Feb. 26: In a press conference, President Trump said the risk to Americans remains low.
Feb 28 A German team of doctors in Wuhan, China, “we discovered that shedding of potentially infectious virus may occur in persons who have no fever and no signs or only minor signs of infection.”
Feb 29:The Food and Drug Administration declared that other labs besides their own could develop their own coronavirus tests.
March 1
Health officials announced the first confirmed case in New York
March 2 Governor Andrew Cuomo “In this situation, the facts defeat fear, because the reality is reassuring...The woman who has now tested positive, she’s at home, she’s not even in a hospital, so the perspective here is important. And the facts, once you know the facts, once you know the reality, it is reassuring, and we should relax, because that’s what’s dictated by the reality of the situation. I get the emotion, I understand; I understand the anxiety. I’m a native-born New Yorker, we live with anxiety. But the facts don’t back it up here. . . .
March 10. NYC Mayor DeBlasio encourages NYC to go out and enjoy the city
