The very first coronavirus case in China can be traced back to November 17.
According to government data seen by the South China Morning Post, a 55-year-old from the Hubei province could have been the first person to have contracted COVID-19.
However, the scientists stressed that the 55-year-old was not "patient zero", who scientists expect will help them to trace the source of the virus, generally thought to have jumped to humans from bats.
Chinese authorities have so far identified at least 266 people who were infected with the deadly disease in 2019, all of whom came under medical surveillance at some point.
Some of the cases were likely backdated after health authorities had tested specimens taken from suspected patients.
Interviews between the SCMP and "whistleblowers" from the medical community suggest that Chinese doctors only realised they were dealing with a new disease in late December.
https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/china-tracks-down-first-virus-case/3970802/