Wuhan is believed to be the epicentre from where the virus originated and spread across the globe.

The state-media of China reportedly began a campaign which silenced the doctors who had understood the virus early.

On 2 January, China Central Television ran a story about the doctors who spread the news about an outbreak four days earlier. The doctors, referred to only as "rumour mongers" and "internet users", were brought in for questioning by the Wuhan Public Security Bureau and 'dealt with' 'in accordance with the law', reports BBC.

A health worker from Li's hospital, Wuhan Central, told BBC that over the next few days "there were so many people who had a fever. It was out of control. We started to panic. [But] The hospital told us that we were not allowed to speak to anyone."

  Li Wenliang Factor:  

Dr Li Wenliang, the Wuhan whistleblower,who was the first to raise a coronavirus alarm, had succumbed to the infection in February.

According to reports, Dr Li Wenliang and seven other Wuhan residents, who tried to raise an early alarm about the disease, which was spreading rapidly, were harassed by the local police.

Several countries hold China responsible for not informing the world on time and preventing the spread of the disease to the rest of the world.