China rejected WHO plans for second phase of investigation into origin of coronavirus

Η China rejected today the proposal of World Health Organization to proceed to a second phase of research into the origin of the new coronavirus in the Asian country where the first cases were detected COVID-19 at the end of 2019.

The head of the WHO, Tendros Antanom Gebreyesus, proposed last week that a second phase of the investigation be conducted in the laboratories and markets of Ouchan, while asking the Chinese authorities to demonstrate transparency.

This proposal shows «disrespect for common sense and arrogance toward science,» Zheng Yixin, China's deputy health minister, told reporters.

Zeng said he was surprised when he first read the WHO's draft, because it mentions a possible breach of protocols at a Chinese laboratory as the possible source of the coronavirus.

Tendros had pointed out earlier in July that investigations into the source of the COVID-19 pandemic in China were being hampered by a lack of data on the early days of the spread of the disease there.

Zeng reiterated Beijing's position that some of the data cannot be published in its entirety due to concerns about personal data protection.

«We hope that the WHO will seriously reconsider the studies and proposals of Chinese experts, who are genuinely treating the identification of the origin of the virus that caused COVID-19 as a scientific issue, and avoid political interference» pointed out the Chinese deputy minister.

China opposes the politicization of research, he emphasized.

The first known cases of COVID-19 appeared in the city of Wuhan in central China in December 2019. It is believed that the virus was transmitted from animals to humans who were sold alive at a market in the city..

The theory that the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory, which was supported by the former US president, Donald Trump, has returned to the forefront, although in the past it has not been considered valid by scientists.

In May, the US president, Joe Biden, had asked his advisers to find answers to the question of the origin of the coronavirus, noting that US intelligence agencies are examining conflicting theories, including the possibility of an accident in a laboratory in China.

One of the heads of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wan Zhiming, assured today that there had been «no leak» or «accident» in its laboratories.

On the contrary, Chinese authorities and media outlets often accuse the laboratory of Fort Detrick on USA. The laboratory, located near Washington, is engaged in research against terrorism with biological weapons.

Zeng, along with other experts and officials from China, asked the WHO to expand its investigations into the origin of the coronavirus to other countries.

«We believe that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely and it is not necessary to invest more energy and effort in this direction,» commented Liang Wanyan, the Chinese head of the WHO joint expert mission. According to him, more studies should be conducted on animals, especially in countries with large bat populations.