Coronavirus: Chinese, WHO scientists were ‘in it together’ in Wuhan

Liang Wannian, who led Chinese side in joint investigation, dismisses claims members of international team were denied access to data

Report on inquiry was delayed ‘not because of any interference or our laziness’ but because those involved were ‘striving to ensure its quality’, he says

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Liang Wannian, who led the Chinese team during the Wuhan inquiry, says everyone had access to the same data. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:16pm, 31 Mar 2021Updated: 8:43pm, 31 Mar 2021

Chinese scientists will continue to search for the origin of the coronavirus, a senior Chinese health official said on Wednesday, while defending Beijing’s work with the World Health Organization-led team that visited Wuhan earlier in the year.

Liang Wannian, who led the Chinese team that took part in the inquiry in the city where the pathogen was first detected, said both sides had access to the same data.

“From the start, experts were divided into three teams based on their expertise, and they worked together. So the claim that we did not share [data] is not valid,” he said.

“Of course, some data cannot be taken away or photographed, according to Chinese law. But when we were doing analysis together in Wuhan, everyone could see our database and materials. We all did it together.”

His comments came after WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the international team had expressed difficulties in accessing raw data and that he expected “future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing”.

“To understand the earliest cases, scientists would benefit from full access to data including biological samples from at least September 2019,” he said.