John Brownstein

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houses from August 2019 to suggest An apparent increase in the volume of traffic outside of Wuhan sick of the coronavirus hits the area earlier than reported, a study says.

Harvard researchers say that satellite images show an increase in traffic outside of the five hospitals in the Chinese city of the end of August to December.

The peak load is associated with an increase in online search for information on symptoms such as "cough" and "diarrhoea".

China, said the study was "ridiculous" and "superficial" information.

It is believed that. The authorities reported a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause, The World Health organization (WHO) on 31. December 2019.

"Clearly, there place has been Some the level of social dislocation, including what has been identified as the start of The Novel Corona-Virus-pandemic," said Dr. John Brownstein , who led the research, told Abc News .

has not been peer-reviewed.

What have to show the study?

The researchers examined commercial satellite data from outside the five Wuhan hospitals, comparing data from the Late Summer and autumn of 2018 to the same period in the year 2019.

In one case, researchers counted 171 cars parked at one of Wuhan's largest hospitals, the Tianyou hospital in October 2018.

satellite data from the same time, in the year 2019 285 vehicles in the same place, an increase of 67% was found.

An increase in the online search for words with the symptoms of the coronavirus to emerge on the Chinese search engine Baidu seemed to be at the same time.

"This is all about a growing body of information, something takes place in Wuhan at The Time ," Dr. Brownstein told ABC.

"a Lot of studies are needed to explore fully what has taken place, and for the people, to know really how this disease will unfold outbreaks, and arise in the population. So this is just another point of proof. "

Chinese foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying dismissed and the results in a press conference on Tuesday.

"I think it's ridiculous, unbelievably ridiculous, to based this conclusion on superficial observations, such as volume of traffic," She Said .

What are the implications of the study?

The Bbc 's John Sudworth in Beijing says there are limits to the data set used by the researchers were not able to, for example, to compare satellite images, taken on the same day in successive years, due to the cloud cover in Some of The Photos .

But if the infection was Present - perhaps undiscovered - Some of the people of Wuhan and travel leave in abroad, and this fits with Some of The Other evidence that we have begun to see in other parts of The World , what on early cases of Covid-19, suggesting our correspondent says.

However, it may be unfair to the study as evidence of a cover-up or delay in China the answer is, because of a previously unknown disease has roots in a community, it is quite possible that it will spread Some undetected before it was noticed officially, our correspondent adds.

The researchers examined and commented on the satellite show recordings, Wuhan hospitals,

China reported pneumonia cases with an unknown cause, on 31. December 2019.

Nine Days later, the Chinese authorities revealed they had discovered that a novel coronavirus (later named Sars-CoV-2, The Virus Covid-19) caused in a number of the pneumonia cases.

Wuhan and other Chinese cities went into lockdown on may 23. January, 2020.

the declared Covid-19 is a Public Health emergency of Global significance in the 30. January 2020 -

'Fascinating new clue'

analysis by Helen Briggs, BBC health correspondent

The exact events of The Virus timeline are still unclear, More Than six months. The First known cluster of cases in Wuhan in December 2019, was centered around a local seafood market that sells live animals, including wild animals.

Tests show The Virus was Present , in Some form, but not all, of the cases were associated with The Market and no animal source was wrestled to the ground. Evidence that could have since emerged, suggesting The Virus is circulating already mentioned, also by a French Doctor Who said his patient tested positive for coronavirus in late December.

Now, it is a fascinating new idea, which he seeks not from direct evidence but from the study of satellite images, and internet search terms to suggest, hospital transport and internet symptoms were on The Rise in Wuhan by the end of summer/beginning of autumn.

Only the further research in The Virus , both of animals and humans will give an answer, although it is possible we will never know exactly where and when it originated.

coronavirus pandemic, china, wuhan

Source of news: bbc.com