[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 15th (local time), the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) said regarding the theory that COVID-19 originated in China, "It is premature to rule out the possibility that the virus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan and its connection to the pandemic."
This statement effectively reverses the report released by WHO in March after an on-site investigation in Wuhan earlier this year, which concluded that "the hypothesis that the virus leaked from a laboratory is extremely unlikely."
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a virtual press briefing on the day, "We had difficulties accessing the raw data during the on-site investigation earlier this year," explaining his position.
Director-General Ghebreyesus requested China to cooperate with transparency and openness. He emphasized that it is especially important to verify what happened in the laboratory.
As a former laboratory technician and immunologist, he said, "I have also worked in a laboratory," adding, "Laboratory accidents are common." He further stated, "When the pandemic started, direct information about the laboratory situation is necessary," and "Only in that case can the lab leak theory be ruled out."
Director-General Ghebreyesus reiterated his call for China's cooperation, saying, "The world must find out what happened to the millions of people who died from COVID-19 and prevent the recurrence of the same crisis."
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