Jon Rappoport lays out the possible motivation if Beijing is lying about the seriousness of the virus. The people in industrial Wuhan were already choking to death from massive pollution on an epic scale. There had been large protests, which Beijing feared would spread to other provinces. This would be the greatest fear of the Chicoms. Police presence already choked the city. Because scared. So they could blame a normal, every day virus for the health problems in Wuhan (respiratory probs!!), while having an excuse to shut the entire area down for a breathing spell. Nads say this is just as likely as a killer virus on the loose.
https://blog.nomorefakenews.com/2020/01/27/what-are-the-chinese-hiding-in-wuhan/