WHO says Covid-19 origins unclear but lab leak theory needs study
- A new report marks a sharp reversal of the UN health agency’s initial assessment, which concluded the source was ‘extremely unlikely’ to be a lab accident
- Donald Trump had speculated repeatedly without proof that Covid-19 came from a Chinese lab, and accused WHO of colluding with Beijing to cover up the initial outbreak
An expert group drafted by the World Health Organization to help investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic says further research is needed to determine how Covid-19 first began, including a more detailed analysis of the possibility it was a laboratory accident.
That stance marks a sharp reversal of the UN health agency’s initial assessment of the pandemic’s origins, when it concluded last year that it was “extremely unlikely” that Covid-19 might have spilled into humans from a lab.
In a report released on Thursday, WHO’s expert group said “key pieces of data” are still missing to explain how the pandemic began. The scientists said the group would “remain open to any and all scientific evidence that becomes available in the future to allow for comprehensive testing of all reasonable hypotheses”.
It noted that since lab accidents in the past have triggered some outbreaks, the highly politicised theory could not be discounted.
Former US president Donald Trump speculated repeatedly – without evidence – that Covid-19 was started in a Chinese lab. He also accused WHO of “colluding” with China to cover up the initial outbreak, citing the UN health agency’s continued public praise of the country.