Any tyrannical regime has the ability to rewrite history and "reality" to its own wishes. Every event - including the virus, is spun to its advantage. Even the loss of millions of people can have an "upside" for them, as long as the population is under control: Fewer mouths to feed in a country so large that "wet markets" are a necessity, a continuing example of the consequences of disobeying the regime, and an opportunity to force the population to "believe" the US is responsible. That has the effect that some do actually believe, because no one is allowed to openly speak otherwise, and that belief creates doubt in the World, also to their advantage.