Chinese coronavirus statistics are problematic. I propose that American media outlets should add an asterisk next to mentions of Chinese statistics about the disease. Here's a thread on why. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/07/why-do-we-keep-treating-china-source-reliable-information/

First, some background. The ruling Chinese Communist Party manipulates its statistics: this is a simple fact. Xi demands that Chinese journalists prioritize loyalty to the Party over truth or accuracy. while Premier Li once said most Chinese statistics are “for reference only.”

This didn't use to matter much to Americans. Sure, it weakened our understanding of China, but to most Americans it was fairly niche. But in the age of the coronavirus, Chinese statistics endanger Americans. Why?

Because misunderstanding the speed at which coronavirus spread in China and the current rate of infection there impairs understanding of how the disease affects Americans.