The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, Michael Melham said he tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, adding that he contracted the novel coronavirus in November, over two months before the first confirmed case was reported in the U.S.
CGTN YouTube Channel
Despite the source – a Chinese news outlet – this story was originally reported locally, in Boston, USA, with differing tones, for example:
- Belleville mayor has coronavirus antibodies, believes he had COVID-19 months ago – NorthJersey.com (a section of USA Today)
- N.J. mayor makes unfounded claim that he had coronavirus in November – NJ.com, note the “unfounded claim” in the headline
If the Mayor has the antibodies, most people know when they have been quite ill with a bad flu-like condition, and they know roughly when it was. It boils down to whether or not we believe his account; and what kind of narrative is running alongside this.
In some ways, Covid-19 being in the USA earlier could be regarded as a good thing – it may mean the virus has a low mortality rate, and also that potentially more people already have antibodies, which would allow the economy to restart more quickly. However, if the narratives about China’s “failure to report” the virus are an angle, the presence of the virus in the USA (and other countries) does make this line a little harder to push, because, to be frank, they didn’t notice this new virus either.
It also remains a possibility that the virus did not originate in Wuhan, or China itself. It must be stressed there is no evidence for this.
But it is quite clear we do not know enough to make bold, definitive, statements about such things. Those making such bold statements should be regarded with some scepticism.
Instead of creating a narrative around this pandemic, we should hope that global and local leaders instead focus on facts, and what is known, as a basis upon which to make decisions.
The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey has tested positive to Covid-19 antibodies. He experienced similar symptoms in November 2019. He can pinpoint those dates. Corroborating evidence – perhaps of others present at the same places – would go a long way to confirming this account. There surely exists the technology to collect such data.
Until any of this is hand, it is too early to say for sure. But, the same thing applies to many unfounded claims which are commonly being made, including by Presidents and Prime Ministers, around the globe.
If one cannot produce evidence to back up an assertion; the implication is you are engaging in speculation.
