Media circuit upon return to US

Lipkin returned to the US around Feb 4, whereupon "I started going onto the news media and sharing as much as I could.” ^[24] As an expert in virology who had recently been to China, his opinion was highly valued. He noted: “You can push with CNN and NBC - but that’s not really where you need to push - you need to go onto Oz and talk to people who reach the entire country.” ^[25] To this end, he said, "I never turn down Fox - it’s an opportunity to preach in the wilderness."^[26]

On the day of his return from China, the Columbia University website quoted Lipkin as saying: "So far, there is no evidence that the Wuhan virus will spread to the same extent as SARS."^[27] Though he cautioned that this was not the time to be complacent.

Making an appearance on the Doctor Oz show on March 12 before a studio audience, Lipkin, to allay people's concerns about the need for masks, said: "One of the things I try to emphasize whenever I talk about this virus is … we will almost certainly have additional fatalities ... but it is not as dangerous as some people may suggest - so if for example we look at this like seasonal flu - it’s gonna be much less than say 1% of people - that’s not to say that we won’t lose lives and it’s not important."^[28]

Chinese government transparency

With regard to China’s handling of the crisis, Lipkin said in an interview with TWIV: "They were transparent in sharing that this was a serious threat globally."^[29] Lipkin added, "There’s going to be some stuff that’s going to come out that’s going to show more insight into the origins of the outbreak. Some people are going to say this is evidence that they (Chinese Communist Party officials) withheld information - I’m gonna push back and say 'No, that’s not the case.'^[30] During his visit to China in late January, 2020, Lipkin "offered my services to President Xi Jin-ping, who I found very impressive."^[31]

Chinese media reported that Lipkin "lauded China's transparent and professional approach". His visit was promoted by the tabloid Global Times as evidence that China was willing to cooperate with foreign scientists,^[32] despite accusations by Wuhan doctors and Professor Xu Zhangrun (許章潤) of a cover up.^[33][34] Following his return from China, Lipkin was interviewed by two “members of U.S. intelligence.”^[35]