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 U.N. health agency’s initial assessment of the pandemic’s origins. WHO concluded last year that it was “extremely unlikely” COVID-19 might have spilled into humans from a lab. Many scientists suspect the coronavirus jumped into people from bats, possibly via another animal.
WHO's expert group also noted that since lab accidents in the past have triggered some outbreaks, the highly politicized theory could not be discounted. The experts said no studies were provided to WHO that assessed the possibility of COVID-19 resulting from a laboratory leak. They said their understanding of how the coronavirus emerged was limited by several factors, including that not all research presented by Chinese scientists has been published.
“Tragically, the Chinese government is still refusing to share essential raw data and will not allow the necessary, full audit of the Wuhan labs,” he said. “Gaining access to this information is critical to both understanding how this pandemic began and preventing future pandemics.” Yet after considerable criticism, including from some of the scientists on WHO's team, WHO chief Tedros acknowledged that it was “ premature ” to rule out a lab leak and said he asked China to be more transparent in sharing information.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ontario reports fewest number of ventilated COVID-19 patients in 20 monthsOntario reported 10 net new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, as the number of patients breathing with the help of a ventilator fell to its lowest point since the month the province first instituted a mask mandate.
Read more »
Most remaining Ontario COVID mask mandates lifting on Saturday | Globalnews.caMost of Ontario's remaining COVID-19 mask mandates will be lifted on Saturday, the province's chief medical officer of health says.
Read more »