Originally published at: https://hannity.com/media-room/media-amnesia-how-the-media-democrats-botched-the-growing-coronavirus-crisis-coverage/
The media mob and leaders in the Democratic Party continue to desperately blame President Trump and his administration for the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic that emerged from China earlier this year; conveniently ignoring their early botched reporting, misrepresentations, and outright negligence during the impeachment trial and a series of national televised debates.
To correct the left’s selective memory and falsehoods surrounding the global pandemic, here’s the complete timeline:
The Media Downplays the Threat
The New York Times
January 9, 2020
NYT TWEET:
There’s no evidence that the virus, a coronavirus, is readily spread by humans, and it has not been tied to any deaths. But health officials in China and internationally are watching it carefully.
NBC News
January 23, 2020
‘Too early’ to declare coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, WHO says
Click here.
Washington Post
January 24, 2020
Why we should skeptical of the Chinese coronavirus quarantine
Click here.
ABC’s Good Morning America
January 25, 2020
“Be more concerned about the flu”
Co-host WHIT JOHNSON: Quickly give us some perspective on this as people are taking in this information. Because we’re talking about what’s happening in China and here in the US, but still thousands of people have died in the US from the flu.
DR. JENNIFER ASHTON: Exactly. That’s a key perspective and so is history. So again, it’s evolving. It’s dynamic. We are learning as we go. The CDC flu estimates just out yesterday, an estimated 15 million flu cases and 8,200 deaths. People should be more concerned right now with the flu in this country.
NBC Nightly News
January 25, 2020
“Coronavirus not even close to the flu”
DR. JOHN TORRES (NBC News Medical Correspondent): A lot of people are concerned about the Coronavirus because they’re hearing a lot of news about it right now. But the reality is comparing it to the flu, for example, it’s not even close to being at that stage.
Washington Free Beacon
Montage starting January 25, 2020
SuperCut FLASHBACK: Watch the Media Downplay the Coronavirus
Grabien
January 27, 2020
‘Morning Joe’ Medical Expert on Jan. 27th: Americans Should Worry About the Flu, Not Coronavirus
Daily Caller
January 28, 2020
Rep. Tom Cotton on Tucker Carlon: “I suspect that months from now or perhaps even years from now when people look back at this time, coronavirus will be considered the bigger story than impeachment”
Click here.
BuzzFeed News
January 29, 2020
“Don’t worry about the coronavirus. Worry about the flu.”
Click here.
The Wrap
January 29, 2020
Report on Vox deleted tweet that said, “Is this going to be a deadly pandemic? No”
Vox Deletes January Tweet About Coronavirus That Really Has Not Aged Well
The Washington Post
January 31, 2020
How our brains make coronavirus seem scarier than it is
USA TODAY
February 1, 2020
“Coronavirus is scary, but the flu is deadlier, more widespread”
Click here.
Washington Post
February 1, 2020
“Get a grippe, America. The flu is a much bigger threat than coronavirus, for now.”
Click here.
The Washington Post
February 2, 2020
Past epidemics prove fighting coronavirus with travel bans is a mistake
National Post
February 3, 2020
New coronavirus may be no more dangerous than the flu despite worldwide alarm: experts
POLITICO
February 4, 2020
Coronavirus quarantine, travel ban could backfire, experts fear
Click here.
NY Times
February 5, 2020
Who Says It’s Not Safe to Travel to China?
Click here.
Daily Beast
February 7, 2020
Coronavirus, with zero American fatalities, is dominating headlines, while the flu is the real threat
Coronavirus, with zero American fatalities, is dominating headlines, while the flu is the real threat https://t.co/giKXaGvX0j
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) February 8, 2020
CBS This Morning Saturday
February 8, 2020
Coronavirus not a major issue
Co-host MICHELLE MILLER: So the CDC now has estimated that there have been twelve thousand deaths from the flu– just the flu. How– how worried should Americans be about coronavirus?
DR. DAVID AGUS: Coronavirus is not going to cause a major issue in the United States.
CNN Newsroom
February 15, 2020
The risk is low
Anchor ANA CABRERA: This country has 26 million people who have had the flu and 14,000 people have died from it this flu season. And many of it are kids. How worried should the average American be, given the flu numbers, when it comes to coronavirus? Dr. JENNIFER CAUDLE: The risk in the country is still low. That is the risk. That’s one of the reasons why the CDC does not recommend wearing masks, for example….The risk is low. The risk, however, for the flu is through the roof.
NBC News
February 26, 2020
‘The president is right’ to compare coronavirus prevention to flu, WHO chief says
Washington Post
February 28, 2020
I have the coronavirus. So far it isn’t that bad
Daily Caller
March 4, 2020
CNN’s Anderson Cooper Told Viewers To ‘Be More Concerned About The Flu’ Than Coronavirus
National Review
April 3, 2020
“Media figures on both sides of the aisle failed to appreciate the extent of the threat until it was too late. Liberals shouldn’t pretend otherwise.”
Click here.
The Media Uses the Virus to Smear President Trump
NEW YORK TIMES
February 26, 2020
Let’s Call It Trumpvirus: If you’re feeling awful, you know who to blame.
Newsbusters
February 28, 2020
STUDY: Trump-Bashing Takes up Majority of CNN’s Coronavirus Coverage
CNN
March 8, 2020
Is coronavirus Donald Trump’s Katrina?
Washington Post
March 9, 2020
Mediaite
March 10, 2020
Bret Stephens Bills Coronavirus As Trump’s ‘Chernobyl’: ‘Some Things You Can’t Lie Your Way Through’
Click here.
MSNBC, “All in With Chris Hayes” April 8, 2020
HAYES TWEET: The most cynical interpretation of all this, one I can’t quite bring myself to accept, is they rolled out the model showing 100k deaths after they knew it would be less than that so they could anchor everyone to that # and take a vicotry lap when “only” tens of thousands died.
The most cynical interpretation of all this, one I can't quite bring myself to accept, is they rolled out the model showing 100k deaths after they knew it would be less than that so they could anchor everyone to that # and take a vicotry lap when "only" tens of thousands died. https://t.co/hYiUCHhO5g
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 8, 2020
Politicians Downplay the Threat
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
January 26, 2020
“I want all New Yorkers to know we are prepared and continue to take all necessary steps to keep people informed and safe,” Governor Cuomo said. “I have directed the Department of Health and other state agencies to continue working closely with the CDC, the World Health Organization.
January 28, 2020
“While we continue to closely monitor the spread of this novel coronavirus, I have directed our Department of Health to continue communicating with and providing updates to our local communities, healthcare providers, colleges, universities and New York companies with locations or business interests in China,” Governor Cuomo said. “My message to New Yorkers is: take this coronavirus seriously, take proper precautions, stay informed.
January 30, 2020
“New York does not have one single confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, but we are taking every necessary precaution to protect against its spread into our state. We have been here before,” Governor Cuomo said. “I am urging New Yorkers to take basic precautions against the flu, such as regular hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. These measures will also help people avoid coming in contact with the novel coronavirus.”
February 2, 2020
“Thank you very much Doctor. So the long and the short of it is the federal government has mandated certain actions. We are implementing those actions. Before the federal government announced anything, we were very diligent. We take situations like this very seriously. We understand the density of New York, the complexity of New York. Whatever happens internationally, it winds up at our doorstep relatively quickly. So, we have seen situations like this before. We are very proactive. I don’t take anything for granted. Precaution is always the best practice. Preparedness is always the best practice, and that is what we do here in New York. At the same time, we have to keep this in perspective. But also feel confident that our Health Department and this administration are prepared and ready… There is no reason to have an inordinate amount of fear… Take every one seriously, but don’t have an overly anxious reaction to any one situation.”
February 7, 2020
“Governor Cuomo: Well said, Commissioner. And just as the Commissioner said, yesterday we were contacted by the federal department of HHS and CDC on the cruise ship that was coming into the New York Harbor. There have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus on that cruise ship. Four people are being tested, but there were no confirmed cases and we’re working with them on that. And just to reiterate what the Commissioner, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York thus far. We would expect as time goes on that we will find a case of Coronavirus if you look at the spread of it around the world, we would expect that and we are prepared for that. We have taken a lot of time to put protocols in place and quarantine procedures, et cetera. But again, I understand the fear. We went through this before: Zika virus, Ebola, et cetera. Let me turn it over to Rick Cotton, who is the Executive Director of the Port Authority, who can speak about the Coronavirus and how it’s affecting flights, et cetera.”
February 10, 2020
“We are continuing to take every necessary precaution to protect New Yorkers from this virus,” Governor Cuomo said. “While there are still no confirmed cases of the virus in New York State, I urge everyone to continue to take commonsense precautions, such as regular hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.”
February 26, 2020
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a $40 million appropriation for the New York State Department of Health to hire additional staff, procure equipment… But let’s have some connection to the reality of the situation, and as the doctor said, catching the flu right now is a much greater risk than anything that has anything to do with Coronavirusand any other resources necessary to respond to the potential novel coronavirus pandemic
“I have said before that it is highly probable that you will see a continuing spread of this virus. It is highly probable that we will have people in New York State that test positive. New York is the front door internationally. We have people coming here from across the world. We see how it is spreading and affecting different countries – Italy recently – and that will continue. Again, I think it is highly probable and no one should be surprised when we have positive cases in New York.”
“As a matter of perspective, you take in one of these situations very seriously, and that’s what government should do. Whether it’s SARS or Ebola or Zika or Legionnaire’s, we took every moment very seriously. If you prepare correctly, you’ll have less of an issue when or if a situation develops into something that is more problematic. I was at the Jewish Community Center this past Sunday. It was a bomb threat – an email bomb threat – something I heard when I was in the federal government in emergency management, they said, “The threat that you don’t take seriously is the one that becomes serious.” So we take every situation like this seriously and we prepare for it, but from a public point of view, I want to keep the perspective right. Yes, we’re preparing, but this situation is not a situation that should cause undue fear among people. Yes, it is a serious illness, has a higher mortality rate than the flu, et cetera, but not like some of these situations. We had 17,000 people in the State of New York last week that had the flu – 17,000. So we’ve dealt with situations like this in the past and we’ll deal with it again.”
February 28, 2020
“Well, that’s all you can ask. Let’s talk about this because you’re right. It is balance and what we say is important because you don’t want to panic people, but you don’t want people to think you’re not telling the truth either, right or government is misinformed or taking it lightly. And I’ve spent a lot of time on this and I’m going to spend more time on it. It’s number one on my list. It is exactly what you said. It is preparedness. No expert can tell you what the trajectory is. None of them. There are scenarios. Some are the simpler situation, it’s seasonal, it works its way out. And remember, we’ve gone through this before. Ebola, Zika, West Nile, Legionnaires disease, H1N1.”
“Now this has a higher mortality rate than the flu. But it’s not Ebola either right. It’s not that contracting it is a very high probability of mortality. But if you take the worst case scenarios they are problematic and they are disruptive. And
I talked to the Vice President yesterday, Pence, who the President put in charge of it. And I saw the President on a press conference and they said, “Why did you put the Vice President when you had the Health and Human Services Secretary.” This is not going to be a Health and Human Services agency function. To be prepared, you have to mobilize multiple systems, right. Just start to run the video tape in your mind. People are coming in to the airport at JFK. They’re coming from a place that may have the virus. You now have more countries that have the virus. So more people are coming in.”
March 1, 2020
The patient, a woman in her late thirties, contracted the virus while traveling abroad in Iran, and is currently isolated in her home. The patient has respiratory symptoms, but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving to New York. The positive test was confirmed by New York’s Wadsworth Lab in Albany, underscoring the importance of the ability for our state to ensure efficient and rapid turnaround, and is exactly why I advocated for the approval from Vice President Pence that New York was granted just yesterday.
March 2, 2020
Anthony Mason: Governor, how effective do you expect that test to be? Do you have enough? Will you have enough? You have to be prepared for it and being prepared, Jay, is not as easy as it sounds, right… This evening we learned of the first positive case of novel coronavirus —or COVID-19 — in New York State. There is no cause for surprise — this was expected. As I said from the beginning, it was a matter of when, not if there would be a positive case of novel coronavirus in New York There is no reason for undue anxiety — the general risk remains low in New York. We are diligently managing this situation and will continue to provide information as it becomes available.”
Governor Cuomo: Good question. We just got the federal authority to do the testing, and we are now going to scale up very, very quickly. So, we’ll have the ability to test and, again, in this quote, unquote, containment phase. It’s about the detection and then the isolation and it’s the mobilization of the health care system more than anything. Beyond that, it’s a communication issue to people, you know. We want to have a healthy diligence about this issue, but we don’t want an unnecessary anxiety and we don’t want people overreacting. So that’s what this is really about to me.
Tony Dokoupil: Can you confirm that she lives in Manhattan? If that is the case, have you rule ruled out the possibility of something like we saw in China, where a city or region is sealed off as a containment method?
Governor Cuomo: .
Again, this is not — by the way, Ebola was much more frightening than this issue. We’ve gone
through viruses that are frankly more frightening than this, so we need a little context for all of this, a little perspective. We have to treat it. We have to be serious, but the fear, in my opinion, is outpacing reason at this point.
Click here.
March 2, 2020
“Also, we’re extrapolating from what happened in China and other countries. We have the best healthcare system in the world here. And excuse our arrogance as New Yorkers, I speak for the Mayor also on this one. We are fully coordinated, we are fully mobilized, this is all about mobilization of a public health
system. Getting the testing done, getting the information out and then having the healthcare resources to treat people who are going to need help. Again, that is going to be primarily senior citizens, people who are debilitated. And we’re going to have a special effort for our nursing homes, et cetera, congregate facilities where senior citizens are being treated.”
Click here.
March 3, 2020
She does live in Manhattan. She is isolated in her apartment and there’s no cause to do anything but that. We think we have the best healthcare system on the planet right here in New York. So, when you’re saying what happened in other countries vs. what happened here, we don’t even think it’s going to be as bad as it was in other countries.
Brooke Baldwin: I know a lot of New Yorkers are hanging on your every word, we live on top of each other, we’re on trains, the concern, you say there will be more community spread. Of course the concern is what do you do when you’re living in New York City? Just quickly, your advice.
Governor Cuomo: You live your life. Yes, you take extra precautions, hand sanitizer, etcetera, but we have 15,000 people in New York in hospitals today, Brooke. Fifteen thousand, for the flu. That’s the normal flu. Are you going to see this virus spread? Yes, and this obsession of one case, one case, new case, new case – you will see dozens and dozens and dozens of cases. That is going to happen.
We’re doing more testing. We have the hospital beds, and the mortality rate, the lethality of this disease is double the normal flu rate but it is manageable although unfortunate and that’s what this is, if people actually believed it. The fear factor is in some ways harder to deal with than the reality.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
January 24, 2020
“IT’S IMPORTANT TO GO ABOUT YOUR LIVES”
“So, it’s really important for New Yorkers to understand that based on what we know right now, But we do want people to take the same basic precautions we often urge – to be mindful of just basic hygiene steps like washing your hands frequently and obviously to be mindful if there is any scenario where you might have had prolonged contact with someone who has this disease.”
….
“Yes people should enjoy them as they always are, but this is a situation of individual vigilance. If someone has these symptoms, and might have a connection back to Wuhan take it seriously, and act on it, just get to a medical professional right away. I think we are hoping and praying that’s very few people, we’d be shocked if that’s no one, honestly, we do think we’ll see some cases here, but the faster people get to a medical professional, the greater likelihood this would be contained.”
March 1, 2020
“As NYC confronts 1 Coronavirus case we have been preparing for, jarring to see
@MikeBloomberg pay millions to re-write history. The truth: In Bermuda + UNPREPARED
for 2011 blizzard. UNPREPARED + out of touch with people suffering after Hurricane
Sandy. Rich, but not ready.
March 2, 2020
“it’s important to just go about your lives, continue living as you have because there is no indication that casual contact with some who is infected could lead to others contracting this disease. Lunar New Year, I’m going to be participating myself. I want to urge everyone to be part of those celebrations.”
DE BLASIO TWEET
March 10, 2020
MSNBC interview
De Blasio: Go about life as you normally would. Transmission is not that easy
De BLASIO: We have 25 cases as of this morning. We care deeply about each of those individuals, but against the backdrop of 8.6 million people, and for the vast majority of New Yorkers, life is going on pretty normally right now. We want to encourage that. (edit) if you’re under 50 and you’re healthy, which is most New Yorkers, there’s very little threat here. This disease, even if you were to get it, basically acts like a common cold or flu. And transmission is not that easy.
March 10, 2020
Grabien
De Blasio: “Transmission is not that easy”
“We have to look out for people here, especially those who are over 50 years old and have pre-existing conditions, like lung disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes. These are the folks we really, really need to be careful for. But if you’re under 50 and you’re healthy, which is most New Yorkers, there’s very little threat here. This disease, even if you were to get it, basically acts like a common cold or flu.
No. It takes direct person-to-person contact, direct transmission of fluids.”
NYC HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. OXIRIS BARBOT
February 2, 2020
“The risk is low. Keep going out in public”
Dr Oxiris Barbot, Commissioner of Health for New York City: The risk to New Yorkers for coronavirus is low and that our preparedness as a city is very high. (edit) There is no reason not to take the subway, not to take the bus not to go out to your favorite restaurants, and certainly not to miss the parade next Sunday. I am going to be there. (APPLAUSE)
February 6, 2020
It’s not transmitted casually. Go “enjoy life”
Interview with Spectrum 1
Dr Oxiris Barbot: The important thing for New Yorkers is that in the city currently, the risk is very low and our city preparedness is high. (edit) There’s no risk at this point in time – we’re always learning more – about having it be transmitted through casual contact. So we’re telling New Yorkers to go about your lives.
HOST: Because this is New York and you’re in elevators and trains with everybody all the time
DR OXIRIS BARBOT: Exactly Exactly
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was out in San Francisco’s Chinatown in late February encouraging people to go out in public and spend money at local businesses despite concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus. “It’s exciting to be here, especially at this time, to be able to be unified with our community,” Pelosi said on Feb. 24. “We want to be vigilant about what is out there in other places. We want to be careful about how we deal with it, but we do want to say to people ‘Come to Chinatown, here we are — we’re, again, careful, safe — and come join us.’”
Dr. Anthony Fauci
NEWSMAX TV
January 21, 2020
GREGG ELLY: So um, manageable numbers. Bottom line, we don’t have to worry about this one, right?
DR. FAUCI: Well, you know obviously you need to take it seriously and do the kinds of things that the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security are doing.
“The Cats Roundtable with John Catsimatidis”
for the people of the United States, and this is not something that the citizens of the United
States right now should be worried about.
January 26, 2020
DR. FAUCI: The American people should not be worried or frightened by this. It’s a very, very low risk to the United States.”
OTHER POLITICIANS & HEALTH OFFICIALS
February 2, 2020
State Senator John C. Liu: Continue life as usual! It would be racist to do otherwise
Liu: But there’s really no need to panic and to avoid activities that we always do as New Yorkers, we are a hardy people (edit) As an Asian-American, I’ve been somewhat disturbed if not outright appalled at some of the comments or gestures that I have seen, and my constituents have seen. There’s no need to cast aspersions on an entire community because this is happening. Diseases originate from anywhere or from particular places in the world.
February 2, 2020
Senator Brian Kavanagh: Don’t mess with the Chinatown parade
Kavanagh: “It’s very important that we recognize that this holiday and this festival is of tremendous significance for many communities in our state. It is very important that we ensure that we don’t have misinformation.”
February 2, 2020
“We want people to go out!”
Click here.
February 3, 2020
WHO Director: “There’s no reason to interfere with international travel and trade!”
Click here.
Coronavirus at the Democratic Debate
January 14, 2020
The Seventh Democratic Debate (Des Moines, IA)
Hosted by CNN/The Des Moines Register,
Neither the moderators nor candidates discussed coronavirus in this debate.
February 7, 2020
The Eighth Democratic Debate (Manchester, NH) Hosted by ABC News/WMUR/Apple News
Neither the moderators nor candidates discussed coronavirus in this debate.
February 19, 2020
The Ninth Democratic Debate (Las Vegas, NV)
NY Times
DEMOCRATIC DEBATE MODERATOR ASKS NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIRUS “Chuck Todd served as a moderator of an NBC News debate on Feb 19, which was more than two weeks after President Trump suspended travel from China. Number of questions Todd asked any of the candidates about Coronavirus? Zero.” Todd served as a moderator at the two-hour MSNBC/NBC News Democratic debate last month, where there was no mention of the ongoing virus outbreak.
Media Hypocrisy on the ‘Wuhan’ or ‘China’ Virus
NY TIMES
January 15, 2020
Japan and Thailand Confirm New Cases of Chinese Coronavirus
CNN
January 20, 2020
Vaccine for new Chinese coronavirus in the works
NBC News
January 22, 2020
China virus death toll rises to 17 as city of 11 million is shuttered
CNN’S JIM ACOSTA
January 23, 2020
CNN International: Authorities in Beijing have cancelled all large-scale Chinese New Year celebrations in an effort to contain the growing spread of Wuhan Coronavirus.
CNN International: Authorities in Beijing have cancelled all large-scale Chinese New Year celebrations in an effort to contain the growing spread of Wuhan Coronavirus.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 23, 2020
NY TIMES TWITTER
January 24, 2020
The Wuhan virus has turned up in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States. Investigators in other countries, including Mexico and Saudi Arabia, are evaluating possible cases. Here’s what we know.
The Wuhan virus has turned up in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States. Investigators in other countries, including Mexico and Saudi Arabia, are evaluating possible cases. Here's what we know. https://t.co/2Mz9xPqvXv
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 24, 2020
YASMIN VOSSOUGHIAN, MSNBC ANCHOR
January 24, 2020
The Chinese coronavirus death toll has jumped to at least 26 people
MIKA BRZIZINSKI, MSNBC HOST
January 24, 2020
Click here.
FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST
This comes as the Chinese coronavirus death toll has jumped to 26 people and sicked at least 853 people
January 26, 2020
The Chinese virus – the Coronavirus – that is worrying the whole world
CNN
January 29
Click here.
The Washington Post
February 2, 2020
Past epidemics prove fighting coronavirus with travel bans is a mistake
POLITICO
February 4, 2020
Coronavirus quarantine, travel ban could backfire, experts fear Number of Wuhan coronavirus cases inside mainland China overtakes SARS, as virus spreads worldwide
DON LEMON, CNN HOST
February 26, 2020
The first US case of Chinese coronavirus was confirmed at one of her hospitals
FOX NEWS
April 1, 2020
Click here.
