The World Health Organization gave an update on its investigation of the possible origin of Covid-19 this morning:
The World Health Organization is giving an update on what the investigative team found — and didn’t find — in Wuhan as they try to identify the origins of the COVID-19 virus. pic.twitter.com/Ss4E6fViRK
— Lindsey Mastis (@LindseyMastis) February 9, 2021
And, surprise! They’re dismissing the idea that it was a lab accident but instead say it “most likely spilled over to humans through an intermediate animal” or “through frozen food”:
#BREAKING World Health Organization official says the coronavirus most likely spilled over to humans through an intermediate animal and that another likely transmission channel is through frozen food.
— Stephanie Myers (@_StephanieMyers) February 9, 2021
They’re saying the chances it escaped from a lab are “extremely unlikely”:
WHO official Peter Ben Embarek says theories it disseminated from a lab is "extremely unlikely."
— Stephanie Myers (@_StephanieMyers) February 9, 2021
And they’re shutting the door on the lab theory:
WHO rules out further investigation into Covid-19 originating from lab: 'extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus into the human population and is therefore not a hypothesis that implies future studies to support our work into understanding origin of the virus'
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
The frozen-food angle is important because China is arguing that Covid-19 could have originated somewhere else and that’s how it got to the market in Wuhan:
Liang: Covid-19 can be found in frozen food and packaging. It has been found in the cold chain, indicating that it can be carried long-distance on cold-chain products.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
The WHO’s Peter Ben Embarek said Covid-19 could have been present in “other countries” before it was discovered in Wuhan:
Ben Embarek now keeping open the possibility of coronavirus being present in 'other countries' (before Wuhan).
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
Ben Embarek says a frozen wild animal that was infected could have been the vehicle for the virus into the market where the temperature would have enabled the viruses rapid spread.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
It’s a “convoluted route” but this is a fricking gift to China:
Now Ben Embarek says Covid-19's origin could have been through a very "convoluted route" involving "movement across borders" and travels before arriving in the market.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
Ben Embarek – it could be a trader, a visitor, it could be a product. Frozen wild animals susceptible to these viruses were sold there.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
Liang: The second phase involving the evolution of Covid-19 – the likelihood of spillovers, may happen frequently resulting in mutations in different geographical locations.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
Liang Wannian from China’s National Health Commission added cats to the list of animals that may be responsible:
Liang: Covid-19 most likely to be found in bats and pangolins suggesting these animals as hosts – but viruses identified from these two so far are not sufficiently similar.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
Liang: the feline family could be a potential reservoir given the susceptibility of mink and cats to Covid-19.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
He also suggested everyone missed Covid-19 in other locations before it was identified in Wuhan:
Liang: Possibility of missed earlier circulation of Covid-19 in other locations. Suggesting a determination of review after global data.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
In summary, “we’ve officially moved the WHO into accepting the idea repeatedly put forward by China that it may not be the epicentre of COVID-19.”
So far the gist of this is – we know nothing for certain but we've officially moved the WHO into accepting the idea repeatedly put forward by China that it may not be the epicentre of COVID-19.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
Whitewashing in progress?
This is only going to embolden those accusing @WHO under @DrTedros of being whitewashed by China.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) February 9, 2021
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