The Chinese government is being sued by the US state Missouri over the coronavirus pandemic with Mississippi too filing a petition claiming the communist nation did little to prevent the outbreak of the fatal disease, which has led to over 180,000 lives being lost worldwide. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt in his allegations has stated that China has concealed valuable information about the COVID-19 virus while arresting whistleblowers who tried to inform the general public about the nature of the disease, which has caused irreparable loss of life and jobs in the state.

Speaking about the decision to take China to court, Eric Schmitt said, "COVID-19 has done irreparable damage to countries across the globe, causing sickness, death, economic disruption, and human suffering. In Missouri, the impact of the virus is very real - thousands have been infected and many have died, families have been separated from dying loved ones, small businesses are shuttering their doors, and those living paycheck to paycheck are struggling to put food on their table,". He further added, "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. They must be held accountable for their actions."

The state of Missouri is looking to be reimbursed by China for the costs incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is estimated to be in billions while also looking for compensation for the communist country's supposedly "abnormally dangerous activities". In the 47-page lawsuit, it has been stated that China had allowed people to leave the city of Wuhan while knowing about the nature of the disease apart from destroying medical research and accumulating and storing away personal protective equipment.

China has claimed the lawsuit filed by the Missouri Attorney General to be "very absurd". Foreign states are exempt from U.S. prosecution as per the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which is the reason Missouri is looking to steer clear from the hurdle in the case and are instead suing the Communist Party of China, rather than the People's Republic of China. The number of positive coronavirus cases in Missouri is nearing 6,000 people with 189 declared dead so far while Mississippi has recorded 4,700 cases and 183 victims. People in both states have been given stay-at-home orders till May 3 with plans to lift the lockdown underway next once the situation reaches a phase of normalcy.