The United States government has reignited the debate over the origins of the coronavirus (COVID-19) by publishing a new report claiming that a laboratory-related incident in China is the most likely source of the virus while accusing former US Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci of promoting a narrative that the pandemic originated naturally.
On July 29, the White House posted “The truth” on social media, linking to a government webpage titled “Lab Leak: The True Origins of COVID-19.” The report argues that the virus most likely originated from a lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
According to the report, the widely cited scientific paper “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2” was encouraged by Fauci to support the theory that COVID-19 emerged naturally, a claim the White House says helped discredit the lab leak hypothesis.
The report also alleges that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology developed COVID-like symptoms in late 2019, months before the outbreak was linked to a seafood market in Wuhan. It further claims the virus contains biological characteristics “not found in nature” and says no convincing evidence supporting a natural origin has emerged.
The White House also criticized EcoHealth Alliance, accusing the organization of using US taxpayer funds to facilitate dangerous gain-of-function research in Wuhan. It said the US Department of Health and Human Services has suspended the organization’s funding and initiated debarment proceedings, while the Department of Justice is investigating its pandemic-era activities.
The report further alleges that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had inadequate oversight of potentially dangerous research and accuses officials in the Biden administration of delaying congressional investigations and withholding information related to the pandemic.
It also criticized the World Health Organization (WHO), claiming it failed in its response by placing China’s political interests ahead of its international responsibilities.
The report questioned several public health measures introduced during the pandemic, including six-foot social distancing, mask mandates, and prolonged lockdowns, arguing they lacked sufficient scientific backing and caused significant economic, mental health, and social consequences.
The publication comes a day after Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Republican-led Senate hearing after being subpoenaed to testify about the federal government’s COVID-19 response. Fauci said he acted on legal advice and accused Senator Rand Paul of conducting a politically motivated campaign against him.
Republican lawmakers have continued to argue that US-funded research linked to the Wuhan laboratory may have contributed to the pandemic, while Fauci has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and maintained that the strongest available scientific evidence still points to a natural origin of the virus.
More than 150 scientists and medical professionals have signed an open letter defending Fauci, stating that no credible evidence has been produced to substantiate the allegations against him and urging Congress to end what they described as politically motivated investigations.
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