2020

On 3 January, China informs WHO of having identified over 40 cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology, and on 7 January Chinese public health officials identify a novel coronavirus as the causative agent of the outbreak. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) thereupon established incident management structure to guide their response to novel coronavirus reported by the Chinese. It followed the preparedness plan devised for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). On 9 January, China reports first officially certified death from coronavirus, and Chinese researchers publicly post the full genetic sequence of the virus (Issacson, 404). On 11 January, World Health Organization (WHO) reports, via tweets, that it has received genetic sequence of the coronavirus, to become publicly available in near future.