Prelude <> Nov/Dec 2019 <> January 2020 <> February <> March <> April <> May <> June <> July <> August <> September <> Source Data
The Pandemic Starts
This next section of timeline details the early indications of a novel (new) viral epidemic developing in the city of Wuhan, China, with some outlying cases appearing in other parts of the world.
November – December 2019
November 15
Several sources indicate that U.S. intelligence agencies became aware of an emerging disease in the City of Wuhan, China during the second week of November. November 17
Chinese government data indicates a 55-year old man from Hubei Provence may be the first confirmed Chinese case of Coronavirus. This data also indicates possible other, unreported Chinese cases earlier than November. November 18
The U.S. CSIS Commission on Strengthening America’s Health Security releases a report stating the United States remains woefully ill-prepared to respond to global health security threats. The report urges the U.S. government to replace the cycle of crisis and complacency that has long plagued health security preparedness with a doctrine of continuous prevention, protection, and resilience. November 21
The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey makes an uncorroborated claim that he contracted the coronavirus in New Jersey on November 21, two months before the first confirmed U.S. case in Washington State. His claim is on the basis of blood test results taken in mid-April 2020 showing positive for the Coronavirus antibodies. The mayor states he believes he contracted the virus while in Atlantic City attending the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference held November 17-19. November 27
In July 2020 researchers in Brazil announce they detected Covid-19 in sewage sampled in November 2019. The study was based on samples collected from the waste water network in Florianopolis, a beach town in southern Brazil, with the earliest traces appearing in a sample taken November 27.Late November
Reports surface that the U.S. military’s National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) issued intelligence reports on a contagion sweeping through China’s Wuhan region. The NMCI denies making any briefings in November.A report published May 23, 2021, reveals that three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care. Intelligence reports speculate these were early cases of COVID-19, but there appears to be no hard evidence of this.Researchers mapped the genomes of numerous COVID-19 genetic lineages from across the world, which allows them to pull each genetic thread back to a common starting point, placing it both in the stream of genetic evolution and in time. All the analyzed lineages lead back to an origin point in late November or early December 2019 in Wuhan, China. December 13 – 16
A study, published November 30, 2020, reports that archived blood samples from 7,389 routine blood donations collected by the American Red Cross from 13 December 2019 to 17 January 2020 from donors resident in 9 states, showed the COVID-19 antibodies were detected in 106 specimens from California, Oregon, and Washington, as early as 13–16 December 2019. December 16
Patient Wei Guixian is admitted to Wuhan Central Hospital with infection in both lungs but resistant to anti-flu drugs. Staff later learned he worked at a wildlife market connected to the outbreak. He is one of the earliest named cases of Coronavirus.Person-to-person spreads of the new disease is occurring in Wuhan by mid-December, and cases are beginning to double every seven days.December 18
The U.S. House of Representatives vote to impeach President Trump, culminating several weeks of intense investigations and public testimony.Scientists in Italy find traces of the new coronavirus in wastewater collected from Milan and Turin on December 18, 2019 – suggesting COVID-19 was already circulating in northern Italy before China reported the first cases. Published June 19, 2020December 22
A study published September 9, 2020, in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) shows statistical evidence that the Coronavirus was already in the United States as early as December 22.December 24
A study, published June 15, 2021, reports that blood samples taken from 24,000 subjects who gave blood between Jan. 2 and March 18, 2020 as part of ’s “All of Us” research program were later tested for the COVID-19 antibody. Nine samples came up positive, with the participants from nine states. Seven of those gave blood in five states — Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — before the first official cases in those states. A donor from Illinois who gave blood on Jan. 7, 2020, suggests the virus may have been present in Illinois as early as December 24, 2019.December 26
A pneumonia cluster of unknown cause was observed on 26 December and treated by doctor Zhang Jixian, in Hubei Provincial Hospital. The doctor suspects this may be a novel form of virus. Medical testing industry leader BGI receives a sample of the new virus from a Wuhan hospital for sequencing. The company is unaware that this virus has sickened many people.December 27
Doctor Zhang Jixian officially informs the Wuhan Jianghan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Chinese officials, that he may be witnessing a novel form of virus.The first possible known case of Coronavirus appears in Paris, France, identified in a man admitted to a hospital. Based on known progression of the virus, the man must have become infected between December 14 to 22. (The medical identification as Coronavirus is based on tests of archival material and reported May 5, 2020.)
A French delegation took part in the 7th edition of the World Military Games in Wuhan from October 18 to 27 – just 20 days before the first Chinese person officially became ill with coronavirus. Participating French athletes have been quoted in French media as speculating that they may have brought the virus back home with them. Probable cases of Coronavirus appears in two residents of Snohomish County, Washington, USA. One of these residents says she fell ill shortly after Christmas with a dry cough, fever and body aches. (The medical identification as Coronavirus is based on tests conducted in May 2020).December 28
Virologist Dr. Lili Ren of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College submits the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, to . This information was made public in a letter from to Congresswoman in December 2023.December 29
Medical testing company BGI completes it’s sequencing of the virus sample sent from the Wuhan hospital. Results show that while it was not the virus that causes SARS, it was a previously unseen coronavirus that was about 80 per cent similar to it. December 30
Chinese authorities confirmed they were investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia.Ai Fen, a top director at Wuhan Central Hospital, posts information on WeChat about the new virus. She was then reprimanded by officials and told not to spread information about it. Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang also shares information on WeChat about the new SARS-like virus. He is called in for questioning by Chinese officials shortly afterward. Simultaneously, the Wuhan health commission notifies hospitals of a “pneumonia of unclear cause” and orders them to report any related information.
A research mission to Wuhan, China in February 2021 discovers signs the outbreak was much wider in Wuhan in December 2019 than previously thought, hitting an estimated 1,000-plus people. The mission had found several signs of the more wide-ranging 2019 spread, including establishing for the first time there were 13 different strains of the virus in Wuhan already in December. These 13 different strains might indicate the virus spread in China for some time, undetected, before the outbreak was reported.December 31
Wuhan health officials confirm 27 cases of a novel illness and close a market they think is related to the virus’ spread. China officially notifies the ‘s China office about the cases of an unknown illness.A research mission to Wuhan, China in February 2021 discovers signs the outbreak was much wider in Wuhan in December 2019 than previously thought, hitting an estimated 1,000-plus people. The mission finds several signs of the more wide-ranging 2019 spread, including establishing for the first time there were 13 different strains of the virus in Wuhan already in December. These 13 different strains might indicate the virus spread in China for some time, undetected, before the December outbreak in Wuhan.Contact Us
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Timeline Source Data Files
I built this timeline from a set of working notes in spreadsheet format. At present, my working notes have 1247 news entries, in addition to other references that form my “Additional Reading” sidebar entries, and other source references. Not all these news items are published in this timeline, for various reasons. My notes are freely available under a Creative Commons license (BY SA) to any writer or researcher who finds this work useful.
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When Did It Start?
Research Study
A study, published November 30, 2020, reports that archived blood samples from 7,389 routine blood donations collected by the American Red Cross from 13 December 2019 to 17 January 2020 from donors resident in 9 states, showed the COVID-19 antibodies were detected in 106 specimens from California, Oregon, and Washington, as early as 13–16 December 2019.
“Serologic Testing of US Blood Donations to Identify Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–Reactive Antibodies: December 2019–January 2020”
Research Study
A study published June 15, 2021, in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases reports that blood samples taken from 24,000 subjects who gave blood between Jan. 2 and March 18, 2020 as part of s “All of Us” research program were later tested for the COVID-19 antibody. Nine samples tested positive for the COVID-19 antibodies, indicating the virus was present in Illinois as early as December 24, 2019.
“Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in All of Us Research Program Participants, January 2-March 18, 2020”
Congressional Report
Details Coronavirus timeline events of December 2019 – January 2020
“COVID-19 and China: A Chronology of Events (December 2019-January 2020)“
Letter from Dr. Melanie Egorin to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers on Genbank Data
This letter describes the circumstances of Virologist Dr. Lili Ren of the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College submitting the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, to GenBank. Due to perceived errors in the submission, this sequence was never published. This information clearly falsifies the Chinese government’s claim that the causative agent of the Wuhan pneumonia outbreak still had not been identified near the end of the first week of January 2020.
Published December 21, 2023
Analysis of Dr. Lili Ren’s genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, to the Genbank database on Dec-28-2019. This submission would have provided adequate information to initiate vaccine production in late 2019 if it had been made public.
Analysis of a SARS-CoV-2 sequence submitted to Genbank on Dec-28-2019
Prelude <> Nov/Dec 2019 <> January 2020 <> February <> March <> April <> May <> June <> July <> August <> September <> Source Data
