China has rejected the terms proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to further investigate the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gebreyes, head of WHO, called on China to be more supportive of the early stages of the outbreak, including institute audits.
Deputy Health Minister Zeng Yixin said he showed “disregard for common sense and arrogance for science.”
He said the plan was politicized and China could not accept it.
WHO could only send a team of experts to Wuhan, the city where the virus was first detected in December 2019, to investigate the cause of the January pandemic.
Their researchers have concluded that the coronavirus is very unlikely to escape from the laboratory, but the theory remains.
Earlier this month, Dr. Tedros outlined the proposed second phase of the WHO study, including an audit of a scientific research institute in the area where the virus was first identified.
He urged Beijing to “keep transparent, open and cooperate.” Work with the investigator to provide raw patient data that was not shared during the initial study.
At a press conference Thursday, Zeng said he was very surprised because WHO’s proposal focused on alleged violations of China’s experimental protocol.
He said it was “impossible” for China to accept the terms and added that the country had submitted its own origin tracking recommendations.
“We hope that WHO will seriously consider the considerations and suggestions of Chinese experts, treat the trace of the origin of the Covid-19 virus as a scientific issue, and eliminate political interference,” Reuters said. It was.
Yuan Jimin, director of the National Biosafety Research Institute of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, also attended the press conference. He said the virus is of natural origin and has not leaked the virus or infected staff at the facility since it was launched in 2018.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 4 million people have died worldwide and WHO is facing increasing international pressure to further investigate the origin of the virus.
Earlier this year U.S. President Joe Biden also ordered U.S. intelligence officials to “double” their own investigative efforts. Pandemic.