A startling revelation has emerged from the shadows of government secrecy: the Biden administration allegedly kept a critical 2022 Defense Department report under wraps. This document, crafted in December 2022 by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, suggests that seven U.S. military members may have contracted COVID-19 as early as October 2019 while attending the World Military Games in Wuhan, China.
The Report’s Findings: A Closer Look
The report dives into the health outcomes of American athletes and staff who participated in the 2019 World Military Games. It states, “The Department of Defense (DoD) has concluded through correspondence with the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and United States of America Medical Director in charge of the safety and health of the participants in the 2019 World Military Games, that 7 Service members who attended the games exhibited COVID-19-like signs and/or symptoms during the timeframe of October 18, 2019 through January 21, 2020. The COVID-19-like symptoms could have been caused by other respiratory infections. All 7 Service members’ symptoms resolved within 6 days.”
This finding paints a picture of early illness that challenges the timeline many have accepted about the virus’s spread. While the symptoms could have stemmed from other causes, the timing and location raise compelling questions.
A Delayed Disclosure Sparks Controversy
The Washington Free Beacon, which first brought this story to light, emphasized the report’s significance: “The December 2022 report, which the Biden administration was required by law to release to the public over two years ago but didn’t, reveals for the first time that seven U.S. military service members contracted COVID-19-like symptoms during or after their participation in the World Military Games in Wuhan in October 2019—contradicting the Biden administration’s public claims in 2021 that there was no evidence that any American participants contracted the virus at those games.” This delay in transparency has fueled speculation and debate, adding weight to theories that the virus was circulating in Wuhan well before China’s official announcement in December 2019.
The report only saw the light of day last month, thanks to the Trump administration’s decision to post it on the Department of Defense website—a move that has reignited discussions about accountability and the origins of the pandemic.
Echoes from the Games: International Voices
The U.S. wasn’t alone in noticing strange illnesses tied to the Wuhan event. Reports from 2020 highlight similar suspicions among athletes from other nations. French pentathlete Elodie Clouvel shared with The Daily Mail that she and her partner Valentin Belaud believed they contracted COVID-19 at the Games. Italian fencer Matteo Tagliariol recalled that everyone in his apartment in Wuhan obtained “symptoms that looked like those of Covid-19.” Meanwhile, Jacqueline Bock of the German volleyball team recounted, “After a few days, some athletes from my team got ill. I got sick in the last two days. I have never felt so sick. Either it was a very bad cold or Covid-19. I think it was Covid-19.”
These accounts align with the American experience, hinting at a pattern that transcends borders.
Travel and Timing: A Washington Connection
The American Prospect noted in June 2020, “The U.S. team used chartered flights to and from the games via Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Washington was one of the earliest states to show a spike in COVID-19.” This detail ties the Games to one of the first U.S. hotspots, suggesting a possible early entry point for the virus.
Calls for Clarity: A Senator’s Stand
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) didn’t mince words when speaking to the Free Beacon: “Taxpayers deserve to know the truth about COVID-19 origins, but the Biden administration concealed this information from the American people for years. This report should have been made public immediately and not restricted to Washington insiders. If Americans visiting Wuhan were potentially infected with the COVID-19 virus in October 2019, those claiming the pandemic began in a wet market just two months later would be completely off base.” Her frustration reflects a growing demand for openness and a reevaluation of the pandemic’s starting point.
Piecing Together the Puzzle
This once-hidden report stirs the pot of an already complex narrative. It bolsters the idea that the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab earlier than previously admitted, challenging official stories and urging a fresh look at the evidence. As more voices—from U.S. service members to international athletes—echo similar experiences, the call for truth grows louder, pushing past the veil of secrecy to demand answers.
The Fairview Gazette will keep you updated on any new developments regarding this story.
