A woman wears a medical mask during a snowfall in Beijing, China, February 2, 2020.
Artyom Ivanov | Tass | Getty Images
A growing chorus of voices around the world is calling for China to compensate for the damages incurred due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Just this week, the U.S. state of Missouri filed a civil lawsuit against the Chinese government over its handling of the outbreak, saying China’s response led to devastating economic losses for the state.
The civil lawsuit that was filed in a federal court by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, alleged negligence on China’s part, among other claims. The complaint said Missouri and its residents have lost possibly tens of billions of dollars, and sought cash compensation.
“The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease,” Schmitt, a Republican, said in a statement. “They must be held accountable for their…