Members of the White House coronavirus taskforce are blaming China and the World Health Organization (WHO) for a delayed response to the Coronavirus Outbreak.
âYou really have to go back and ask yourself, âWhy wasnât there this level of transparency when this virus exploded?â Dr. Deborah Birx said during an appearance on ABCâs âThe Viewâ On Wednesday.
She added, âI think people would have prepared differently if they had known the level of transmissibility of this virus.â
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Birxâs comments come a day after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would cut off its funding to the WHO. âThe WHO failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable,â Trump said during a press conference on Tuesday.
The WHO has been criticized by some lawmakers for not investigating Chinese officialâs claims about the virus in the early days of the outbreak.
As Birx said, in the early days of outbreaks, âyou have to increase your level of reporting and transparency.â
She explained, âBecause itâs a new disease, every word and every experience that you have becomes very critical.â
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) called for the head of the WHO to testify before the Senate about his organizationâs response to the outbreak. And Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for an investigation of the organization and accused it of helping China âcover-upâ information about the virus, as IJR has previously reported.
While the WHO has been criticized for not pressing for more transparency from China, officials at the organization defended its response and said it does not have the authority to investigate beyond the information it is given.
