I'm a major public figure coming to your hospital during a major Pandemic which we now consider more than just a sniffle. TV are there and there's an opportunity to get an important health message across.
Is the preferred message "this disease is really serious. keep your distance." Or "Shake hands with everyone"?
Can`t help yourself can you?
The facts of the matter are that, even the experts & global organisations like the WHO, had little idea exactly how serious the situation was or would become between January and March.
Describing it as a sniffle with the caveat that it was bad news if you had underlying health issues was pretty much spot on, I know it hurts you to think that.
Look at the timeline..............
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/27-04-2020-who-timeline---covid-19
31st December 2019: "A novel coronavirus was eventually identified."
10th January: "WHO issued a comprehensive package of technical guidance online with advice to all countries on how to detect, test and manage potential cases, based on what was known about the virus at the time."
14th January: "WHO's technical lead for the response noted in a press briefing there may have been limited human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus (in the 41 confirmed cases), mainly through family members, and that there was a risk of a possible wider outbreak. "
22nd January WHO issued a statement including: "there was evidence of human-to-human transmission in Wuhan but more investigation was needed to understand the full extent of transmission. "
23rd January WHO: The independent members from around the world could not reach a consensus based on the evidence available at the time. They asked to be reconvened within 10 days after receiving more information.
16th - 24th February: WHO: "They spoke with health officials, scientists and health workers in health facilities (maintaining physical distancing)."
February 25th this thread started.................................. WHO activated a range of Clinical Trials.
11th March: WHO: "Deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction, WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. "
In April the WHO issued the Strategy update document that reflects what we have done since our lock down began in March.