The overwhelming evidence shows that the virus that caused the COVID-19 epidemic leaked from a Chinese research center, according to a U.S. Republicans report released Monday. This conclusion is not supported by U.S intelligence agencies.
Report also cited “example evidence” that Wuhan Institute of Virology scientists – aided primarily by U.S. specialists and Chinese and U.S. government money – were trying to modify coronaviruses in order to infect people. Such manipulation could be hidden
Representative Mike McCaul is the top Republican on House Foreign Affairs Committee. He released the report prepared by Republican staff. It called for a bipartisan investigation into where the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic that killed 4.4 million people around the world began.
China denies that a genetically modified coronavirus was leaked from Wuhan’s facility – where COVID-19 first cases were discovered in 2019, a popular but unproven theory among experts. Beijing denies any cover-up.
Experts believe the pandemic was due to an animal virus that was likely spread from the WIV to humans in a nearby seafood market.
The report stated that “we now believe it’s the right time to completely dismiss [the wet market] as the source.” “We believe that the overwhelming evidence supports the fact that the virus leaked from the WIV sometime before September 12, 2019, and we also believe it was done so at the time when the evidence is sufficient.”
According to the report, it cited “new and under-reported” information regarding safety protocols at the laboratory, including a July 2019 request for $1.5 million for the overhaul of the hazardous waste treatment system. This was less than two years ago.
The U.S. intelligence chief stated in April that it agreed with scientific consensus that the virus wasn’t man-made nor genetically modified.
In May, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered U.S. intelligence agencies in the United States to speed up their search for the virus’ origins and report back within 90 days.
According to a source familiar with intelligence assessments, the U.S. intelligence has not concluded whether the virus originated from animals or the WIV.