For those looking for interesting books about viruses to purchase check this out.

For those looking for 10 CDC recommended preparatory items to buy for a viral outbreak, check this out.

— Breaking News — [updated as new reports emerge]

Increasingly, reports have started to emerge from across the world of the Chinese authorities potentially silencing people to minimize the seriousness of the Wuhan Coronavirus. Here, we analyze some of those stories that have emerged.

The Wuhan Coronavirus has been described as China’s “Chernobyl moment”. The number of cases has already passed SARS, one of the most noteworthy recent diseases to appear, and one where the Chinese government was severely criticized for how it responded – culminating in a rare apology.

For the Wuhan Coronavirus, the initial response appeared slow, with many blaming the Wuhan government, before the central government stepped in to take responsibility for managing the virus. However, what was originally a welcome move, now seems to be followed by reports that the government is attempting to maintain their image.

Back in China, fears are growing of the central government keeping the disease silenced. No one really knows how many people have the virus, however, estimates grow. Current estimates are almost 300 thousand people could get the virus, or 50x what’s currently reported.

Reportedly, inside China, posts on social media about the virus are quickly deleted and critics are being silenced. China is a nation with almost 1.4 billion people, and if those inside cannot get the information they need, nothing stops them from potentially spreading the virus internationally.

Additionally, China seems to be hiding the cause of death for those affected by the coronavirus:

A 53-year-old fitness trainer died on Wednesday after checking into a hospital in Wuhan a little more than a week earlier, said his niece. His family had expected the death certificate to reflect the deadly coronavirus, because as his condition deteriorated, his doctors told his family he was suffering from an untreatable virus in his lungs.

Instead, it recorded “severe pneumonia” as the cause of death, she said. The relatives of two other people who died in separate hospitals in Wuhan this week also described similar situations, saying the causes of death had been given as “viral pneumonia.”

Technically, China is correct that the most common cause of death from corona viruses in general (including SARS or MERS) is the pneumonia they cause. However, ignoring the fact that the virus triggers it could allow authorities to severely under report the number of deaths, lumping the above deaths into existing pneumonia deaths (pneumonia as a whole kills 50 thousand people / year in the United States alone).

This is significant because its this crucial data about virus spread and death rate that the CDC utilizes to make models and handle the virus. With falsified data it cannot succeed.

Additionally, censorship seems to be extending behind China’s borders.

Reddit users rallied almost a year ago over concerns that a new Chinese investment in the company could lead to censorship. The central government seems to be committed to censorship only recently breaking its silence on the disease to deny “rumors”.

Now, in major coronavirus threads on Reddit, censorship seems to be spreading. Recent, well-sourced posts, that discuss analysis from the coronavirus in a bad light, such as the fact that it could spread to 300 thousand people, have been removed. New subreddits are appearing, but the dominant ones still have this issue.

Since this issue is most clear on Reddit, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s also extending to other forms of social media. Reports continue to come in of China attempting to downplay this disease and I recommend staying vigilant.