1/14/20 - WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announces Chinese authorities have seen "no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus."
1/21/20 - When asked "We don't have to worry about this one, right?" US Dr. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (for 36 years) said “Well, obviously you need to take it seriously. And do the kinds of things that the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security are doing, but this is not a major threat for the people of the United States and this is not something that the citizens of the United States right now should be worried about.”
Scientists make mistakes, but also evolve their opinions and assessments once more data are available. That's called the scientific process. But wilfully ignoring scientists once they raise the alarm is inexcusable negligence, in this case with lethal consequences.