World Health Organization scientists in China said Wednesday their investigation into the COVID-19 origins has stalled, and they’re running out of time to come to a conclusion.
The news should only escalate the ongoing feud between the WHO, China and the United States over the origins of the virus. The video above includes the clips from news conferences in Geneva, China, and the U.S.
“The window of opportunity for conducting this crucial inquiry is closing fast: any delay will render some of the studies biologically impossible,” the scientists said.
Back in March, they published an analysis saying the virus probably jumped to humans from animals. At that point, they described the possibility of a laboratory leak as “extremely unlikely.” However, the scientists said their report was intended only as a first step.
In a commentary published in the journal Nature, they noted among other things that Chinese officials are still reluctant to share some raw data, citing concerns over patient confidentiality.
“We’ve heard statements from our Chinese colleagues that there are studies that are underway in China,” WHO COVID-19 Technical Lead Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said at the WHO news conference. “We would have to ask them specifically what those studies are. And we look forward to the results of those, as has been outlined in the international report.”
Meanwhile in Beijing, a Foreign Ministry director general took aim at both the WHO and the U.S.
“We will continue to cooperate with international organizations like WHO in their research and in their search for the origin, but we do not accept baseless and unfounded accusations that are politically motivated,” Director General Fu Cong said. “If they want to baselessly accuse China, so they’d better be prepared to accept the counter-attack from China.”
As for the U.S., Cong said “Their purpose is not really to go to the bottom of the origin. Their purpose is to shift the blame onto China, and that is a game we are not prepared to play. It’s a pity that this scientific study has been slowed, but it is not the fault of China.”
Cong’s comments come ahead of the expected release of a U.S. intelligence report on the origins. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden received a briefing Tuesday on the report.
“The intelligence community has been simultaneously working on an unclassified version of summary, a summary version to provide publicly,” Psaki said. “I don’t have a timeline for you on when that will be provided, but they’ve been working expeditiously to prepare that.”
