Beijing: A Chinese doctor, who diagnosed early coronavirus cases in China, has accused the local authorities of a cover-up of the initial scale of the outbreak at the epicentre Wuhan. The Chinese doctor has said the evidence was already destroyed when they went for investigation, according to a media report.

Professor Kwok-Yung Yuen, a microbiologist, physician and surgeon in Hong Kong was speaking to BBC when he made the allegations. He visited the Chinese city of Wuhan to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak. He said the physical evidence at the Huanan wildlife market was destroyed and the response to clinical ndings was slow.

“When we went to the Huanan supermarket, of course, there was nothing to see because the market was clean already. So, you may say that the cri

“I do suspect that they have been doing some cover-up locally at Wuhan. The local ocials who are supposed to immediately relay the information have not allowed this to be done as readily as it should,” Yeun added.

The coronavirus originated from the Huanan wildlife market in Wuhan in December last year. So far coronavirus has globally infected over 16 million people. The disease has claimed the lives of more than 6,48,000 people and bringing the world economy to a standstill.

According to the Johns Hopkins data, China has recorded 86,570 COVID-19 cases and 4,652 deaths.

Several countries, including the US, have criticised China for not divulging information about the severity of the disease. However, China has denied the accusations of withholding information.

China is also accused of reprimanding Dr Li Wenliang and other whistleblowers in Wuhan who tried to warn medics about the deadly virus. Li, who was the rst to report about the virus in December last year, contracted the disease and died in February.