China’s government has dismissed findings from a Harvard Medical School study about the new coronavirus. The study suggests the virus may have begun spreading as early as last August in Wuhan, China. A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry called the study ridiculous, at a news briefing Tuesday. The study used satellite imagery of hospital parking lots in Wuhan and data from internet search engines on physical conditions like cough and diarrhea. The study’s writers said the increased hospital traffic and internet search data in Wuhan came before the documented start of the coronavirus outbreak in December 2019.

What is a spokeswoman?
someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others
a candidate for a political party
a referee at an athletic event
another term used for CEO
What organization conducted the study featured in this article?
The Pew Foundation
Harvard Medical School
The World Health Organization
Johns Hopkins University
A study suggests the virus may have begun spreading as early as last August.
last August
last May
2018
2017