The US Department of Homeland Security intelligence report says China held off informing the WHO that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply.

from Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/china-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies-us-homeland-security-report/articleshow/75526375.cms