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Australian diplomatic cables from China detail early confused weeks of coronavirus emergency – ABC News
Previously unseen diplomatic correspondence gives new insights into Australia’s early response to the first warnings of a coronavirus health emergency unfolding in China’s Hubei province.
Previously unseen diplomatic correspondence has given new insights into how little Australian officials knew of the COVID-19 emergency as it unfolded in China’s Hubei province at the beginning of the year.
Key points:
- In the early days of the pandemic, Australian diplomats were largely reliant on local official statements
- Early cables show DFAT was first informed of 27 cases of an “unidentified respiratory disease” in Wuhan
- Independent senator Rex Patrick says the cable…
