New details have emerged regarding Covid’s origin
Image: Nature
A series of newly released documents provide evidence some virologists say represents a “smoking gun” confirming the theory that Covid first originated in – and eventually leaked from – a scientific laboratory in Wuhan, China.
The documents, obtained by health advocacy group US Right to Know, come from a 2018 grant proposal for a collaboration between US and Chinese scientists called Project Defuse.
- The proposal described how coronaviruses – including the one that causes Covid – could be found, combined, and granted the ability to infect human cells, with the stated goal of finding ways to protect against such viruses emerging in humans (aka gain-of-function research).
- The new Defuse documents also show a number of scientists were concerned that China’s Wuhan Lab of Virology – which is at the center of the Covid lab leak theory – represented a safety risk, since their precautions against adverse events like lab leaks weren’t up to US standards.
Yes, but… Some scientists, including proponents of the idea that Covid leaked from a lab, cautioned the latest details don’t represent a “smoking gun” confirming the Covid lab-leak theory – especially because the proposal for Project Defuse was ultimately rejected.
They also say that because the documents in question are from early 2018, they don’t constitute enough direct evidence to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that Covid leaked from a lab.
📸🦠 Bottom line: Many experts are undecided on Covid’s origins, but the rest have fallen into two main schools of thought: 1) Covid was the result of natural transmission, meaning it passed from animals to humans, or 2) it originally leaked from a lab, likely in Wuhan.
- In total, eight US federal agencies have investigated the origin of Covid. Four concluded the virus was likely the result of natural transmission, two said Covid likely leaked from a Chinese lab, and two are still undecided.
📊 Flash poll: In your opinion, which of the following is the most likely explanation for Covid’s origin?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that China has a global responsibility to open its doors to scientists investigating the origin of Covid, and that Beijing should be called out and harshly penalized for its refusal to do so.
- Others contend that there’s a growing divide between what the science shows on Covid’s origins – aka that it came via natural transmission – and what much of the public as well as a minority of the intelligence community believes to be true.
- “China should answer how covid-19 began. Propaganda is no substitute.” –WaPo Editorial Board
- “I called for more research on the COVID ‘lab leak theory.’ Here’s what I found out” –Michael Worobey, LA Times
- “Let’s Imagine We Knew Exactly How the Pandemic Started” –David Wallace-Wells, NY Times
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the documents from Project Defuse are the latest evidence that points almost overwhelmingly to the idea that Covid leaked from a virology lab in Wuhan, China, and that the mainstream media is unable to report the issue objectively.
- Others contend that scientists in America and abroad have consistently lied to the public about information surrounding the origins of Covid, and now that the lab-leak hypothesis is considered likely they should be obliged to explain themselves.
- “Where Did Covid Come From?” –Nicholas Wade, WSJ
- “Why did the scientists deceive everyone about COVID-19?” –Washington Examiner Editorial Board
- “10 reasons we KNOW that COVID-19 leaked from the Wuhan Lab” –Marty Makary, NY Post
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