That is the fatal mistake. So it says a lot about the competence of that particular official.

But here ... here is where logically speaking, the story gets weird.

This was not covered up. If it was, then it would have been a lot worse.

Obviously the higher ups of the higher ups got word of this new virus, and actions where took.

Look at the timeline:-

https://www.cbs46.com/here-s-a-look-at-the-coronavirus-timeline-so-far/article_d6ee97aa-9d33-5abb-85e2-646131a74190.html

December there were cases.
January 1 they close the wet market.
January 11 first announced death to the new virus that they know of.
January 22 the lock down begins.

If they knew what they were dealing with, maybe they would have worked faster.

My guess is someone downplayed the threat, because it was new and they did not know what it was, no data, you cannot panic with no data - but of course haters will hate and say the most bad things they can think of twist the story for their purposes.

Note the date of the lock down starting. The number of cases confirm at least 547.

Not even 1000 cases and it was mass quarantine.

Watch, no one will bring this up or remember or conveniently forget. China started their mass quarantine efforts at only 547 cases.

From the date of the first fatality to the mass quarantine was only 11 days, of a new virus.

Look at the Western world. No one is moving that quickly, and they knew it was coming too.

Cover yo' ass, blame someone else.