Representatives of the American intelligence community warned the White House about the devastating consequences of the coronavirus for both human health and business back in November 2019. ABC TV company reported this with reference to sources.
The sources reviewed the report of the National Center for Medical Intelligence under the US Defense Intelligence Agency. According to the document, in November, the consequences of the coronavirus, then spreading in the Chinese city of Wuhan, were described in detail. Intelligence noted that the virus could seriously threaten US troops stationed in Asia.
The consequences of the spread of the coronavirus "will be catastrophic," the report's authors warned. The information was repeatedly brought to the attention of the US Department of Defense Intelligence, the Committee of the Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces and the White House. Briefings on the new virus were regularly held in December with the participation of senior federal government officials and members of the White House National Security Council.
As noted in the publication, the US government, using this information, could at an early stage strengthen measures to mitigate and contain the coronavirus and prepare for the crisis.