Sometimes you don't need to look very far to see how manipulated the official data about the 2019 Covid-19 cases is.

Case in point this graph from the Chinese CDC published on the 26th Jan 2020, showing confirmed and suspected cases by date of onset:

When I look at this it strikes me that the disease should instead be called 'Jan the 1st' pulmonary infection.
Again these are onset dates - not reported dates.

See original (it's archived if it gets scrubbed)
news.39.net/whfy/200128/77…

For the data nerd like me, it's alway a temptation to zoom on the axes.

It's certainly worth it in this case as this reveals many suspected or confirmed December cases:

Another very important element is the (now scrubbed) interview in the Chinese Health Times conducted shortly before the CDC gag order of the 25th Feb 2020.

Just before publication on the 27th the interviewee called back to retract the two Nov 19 cases!!

docs.google.com/document/d/e/2…

Anyway I put my notes there:
docs.google.com/document/d/1Zj…

These notes link back to my 'cabinet of curiosities' spreadsheet.

Well, a bit more than curiosities, more like very creative reporting by the Chinese authorities.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

@threadreaderapp compile