I expect the Chinese figured if they could hush up the outbreak they could prevent damage to the economy. A natural reaction, but obviously not good. But the thing was acknowledged to have human-to-human transmission on the 23rd of January. In the west, we could see it coming, but most governments did little about it.
Yes, it will be worth examining the failures once it's all over.
But the same goes for the west.
Greece, already deep in debt and with a knackered health care system did great, shutting down early, knowing they couldn't cope with a big outbreak. Maybe it helped that Ireland has a doctor for PM, but they shut down early too. A lot fewer deaths than the UK.
In the UK, the shutdown was for a good while advisory, and things like the Cheltenham festival (250,000 attendees) went ahead. The UK might do worst of all Europe. The NHS was pretty broken before the event. Not getting tests and protective equipment ready in time was rubbish.
Your man in the US was ridiculous. Talking as if it would never take hold in America, as if it would only affect the puny Asians. The man is absurd. Dropping or lowering requirements for test quality has resulted in unreliable tests being distributed. Reducing funding for the CDC was short-sighted. And thinking you can just open up businesses again already is wishful thinking. America is going to have the highest death rates of any first world country. The economy has had it. American hegemony is over. That's your man.
