China Says They've Almost Stopped Coronavirus Spread: Can We Trust Them? - TLDR News

China’s reports show that their new cases of Coronavirus have been falling over recent weeks, which is clearly amazing news. However, some are doubting China’s miraculous turn around, suggesting that the Chinese data isn’t reliable or accurate. In today’s video we discuss China’s data, their history and if the country can be trusted.

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The question asked was "can china be trusted?"

There is literally no answer to this in the video.

What's worse is you turn it around and ask the YouTube commenters, the least trustworthy source of anything on the planet

[xiaoliuwu]

I think Bill Gates made a good remark about the accuracy of Chinese data during an interview with CBS. His main point is that the figure itself is probably not accurate. But the big trend is clear otherwise those field hospitals wouldn’t have been closed. What’s important is that rather than other countries shouldn’t let their view on the Chinese government prevents them from taking measures the Chinese has done which may be helpful. To me, that’s a fair assessment.

[kathareenmcknight]

My stepmom is from China, and she visits her family there regularly. And she states emphatically that you cannot trust the numbers coming out of China. And I’m inclined to believe her based on China’s past actions. However, as an American, I can also state that the American federal government has and is doing a piss poor job at confronting the virus as well! As far as testing and confirmed case numbers go, everyone (except Trump) admits that the testing is severely lacking. And that our real case numbers are significantly higher than reported due to lack of testing. However, our death numbers are right on the money! Doctors and hospitals have been very transparent with their number of patients, and with the number of deaths. And the press has been very good at reporting on those numbers for the most part. Even the local government figures have been relatively transparent and responsive to the crisis for the most part. It’s just the federal government that needs to get their head out of their ass!

[jasonliang]

The picture of the "former Chinese Premier" is actually the current Premier, just so you know.

[dungeonseeker]

I trust the data from China about as much as I'd trust Prince Andrew to look after my kids.

[HUNVilly]

Could you cite your references in the video description?

[obscureinception]

The official Chinese data is almost certainly suspect, and I have little doubt that they are underreporting cases/deaths. However, it is also a fact that China, unlike many other countries, is unlikely to have any qualms about forcibly restricting the movements of their own population.

Numbers reported by all other nations are also subject to obvious inconsistencies, for example, the number of cases in the UK is very clearly underreported because most people with symptoms are expected to 'self isolate' without actually being tested to see if they actually have the virus.
Covid-19 deaths are also suspect, with some cases included as coronavirus deaths if the person tests positive (or even just because they had some symptoms) even though the deaths would likely to have occurred anyway without the virus.

[piusyikyu]

I am from HK living in the UK. Please do not trust their number at all.

[mariokohler]

No, we can‘t. Saved you 12 minutes, right there.

[daven]

when there is not independent media, it is much easier to cook the book.

[qwerty_and_azerty]

Can we trust China?
TL;DR: we don’t know

There, fixed the video for you

[rh]

4:57 this is again, WRONG.
when the outbreak started it was Chinese New Year holiday, and the school was already shut down in early Jan, and the Feb 20 order was to extend the national holiday.

[benign]

I remember when WHO earlier stated during the outbreak that facemasks gave little protection.

[verttikoo]

The numbers in China are irrelevant. We have to concentrate to our own actions. India and USA are the two new hotspots.

[pt]

the title of this video should have stopped after the first 3 words. Answer: NO

[HisShadow]

The short answer: No!

The long answer: Hell no!

[captaintomato]

China has a political situation that makes their officials in the government incredibly accountable to their failures. On one hand, it means that politicians who consistently failing or are obviously beholden to private interest tend to get the boot. On the other hand, it means that the political system incentivises politicians to downplay the severity of crises like these, which leads to slowed governmental reactions as officials try to save face and avoid public consequences. China's officials may not be outright fabricating their numbers, but they are at least likely massaging the numbers and selecting confirmed cases in such a way that makes them look as good as they can to their increasingly angry constituencies.

[asspartacus]

You would be genuinely NAIVE to trust CCP's figure.

[meikspk]

Chinese here:
China's number has little to say. Even Chinese in China know that the true numbers are far from what's being shown to us.
But we mostly think that the government did a great job. They acted quick, acted harsh and were strict.
I'm a teacher and I need to get my temperature taken twice a day. Blood tested once a day. Need to be fully equipped with masks and sanitizers whenever I leave home. And I need to report anyone who has been talking to me without a mask on.
This makes me somehow feel save. It is a pain in the ass to log everything, but I see the necessity in it.
And all phones in China are being tracked to see where they went and to contain any possible outbreak.

But here's the thing. A second outbreak will come nontheless

[dennydaydreamer]

Considering that Germany has a mortality figure about a third of that of the Chinese while having almost the same number of confirmed infections, I don't see why the Chinese figure is impossible to achieve, particularly given that Germany's control measures aren't even as drastic as that of the Chinese.


Ultimately, arguing whether the Chinese data is accurate does little to address the crisis in Europe and frankly looks like an attempt at diverting public scrutiny away from the local governments. What I find hard to swallow is how the UK government has failed to ready enough testing kits and necessary PPE for doctors and paramedics, given that the Chinese outbreak took place 2 months ahead of the outbreak in Europe. If now is ever a good time to consider the credibility of governments I would argue that the UK has a glaring candidate much closer to home.