Advertisement

Updated May 2nd, 2020 at 11:06 IST

White House: China shut lab of Shanghai professor who revealed genetic code of COVID-19

Mounting another attack on China, the United States has said accused the Asian giant “mishandled the situation” of deadly coronavirus outbreak on May 1.

Reported by: Aanchal Nigam
White House
| Image:self
Advertisement

Mounting another attack on China, the United States has restated that the Asian giant “mishandled the situation” of the coronavirus outbreak and cited Shanghai professor's lab being shut for revealing the pathogen's genetic code. The US along with some European and Western countries have been publically criticising China over spreading misinformation and delaying the global response to the pandemic along with the World Health Organisation. While US President Donald Trump indicated that the country would show retaliation to the Chinese government by imposing tariffs, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany reportedly said in his first press conference on May 1 that she “won’t get ahead of any announcements” from Trump. 

Further elaborating on her statement of China’s “mishandling” of the global health crisis, McEnany mentioned how the mainland refrained from sharing the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus until a professor in Shanghai took the decision on his own hands and revealed the gene code. However, according to the White House Press Secretary, the Chinese government shut the professor’s laboratory “for quote rectification”. McEnany also mentioned the “slow-walked” information about the human-to-human transmission of the deadly disease with WHO. Therefore, she concluded by saying that the US takes “displeasure with China’s actions”.

Read - Trump Mulling Imposition Of Tariff On China For Mishandling Covid, Says 'we're Not Happy'

McEnany said, “It's no secret that China mishandled this situation. Just a few examples for you; they did not share the genetic sequence until a professor in Shanghai did so on his own. The very next day China shut down his lab for quote rectification.”

“They slow-walked information on human to human transmission alongside the World Health Organization and didn't let US investigators in at a very important time,” she added.

Read - Philippines Lodges Protest Against China Over Its Recent Move In South China Sea

‘Certainly an option’

Meanwhile, while responding to a question related to sanctions on China, US President Donald Trump said that imposing tariffs on the mainland is “certainly an option” for retaliating over the handling of the outbreak. The US President strongly believes that the outbreak which went on to kill over 239,600 people around the world should have been contained in China, where it originated. The deadly COVID-19 disease has infected at least 3,401,231 people across the globe. As of May 1, the US has recorded 1,131,452 cases of coronavirus infections with 65,776 fatalities. However, Trump has not laid down the timeline of imposing taxes on China. 

Read - China 'mishandled' Coronavirus Outbreak: White House

Read - US Contemplating Retaliatory Measures Against China For Poor Handling Of COVID Outbreak

(With PTI inputs)

Advertisement

Published May 2nd, 2020 at 11:05 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Rajinikanth in Thalaivar 171 poster
a few seconds ago
Sawai Man Singh Stadium
a minute ago
Credit Card score
2 minutes ago
4 Illegal Migrants On Way To Assam From Delhi Arrested In UP
4 minutes ago
Mandi Lok Sabha seat Pratibha Singh
8 minutes ago
Platinum Industries IPO
9 minutes ago
PV Sindhu makes winning return in BATC 2024
19 minutes ago
Nitin Menon and Anil Chaudhary
23 minutes ago
Hardik Pandya
24 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo