China denies lab theory, points to frozen food as possible cause of pandemic

Record ID: 1627186

  • Title: China denies lab theory, points to frozen food as possible cause of pandemic
  • Date: 17th July 2021
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 16, 2021) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON ZHAO LIJIAN ENTERING ROOM MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ZHAO LIJIAN, SAYING: "In March of this year, the World Health Organization officially released its joint research report with China into the origins of the pandemic. It was concluded that laboratory leaks are impossible. We will continue to investigate on a global basis, search for the initial cases, and study the impact of cold chain and frozen food packaging have had on transmission. This is a scientific and authoritative report that will form the basis of the next stage of the work to trace the origin of the epidemic." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2021 05:41
  • Keywords: China Covid-19 Frozen food Infectious diseases Lab leak theory US-China relations
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EM88ND3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:China said on Friday (July 16) that the lab-leak theory of the origin of the coronavirus pandemic was extremely unlikely.
    Speaking at the daily Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference, spokesperson Zhao Lijian pointed to a joint study between Chia and World Health Organization (WHO) that suggested more research was needed to find the initial cases. Zhao also suggested more research should be done into frozen food packaging as a means of transmission.
    The origin of the pandemic has become a source of political tension between China and the United States, with much of the recent focus on the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), located in Wuhan where the outbreak was first identified in late 2019. China has been criticised for its lack of transparency when it comes to disclosing data about early cases as well as the viruses studied at WIV.
    The joint study published in March said COVID-19 most likely originated in the country's wildlife trade, with the virus passing into humans from bats via an intermediary species. But Beijing has promoted the theory that COVID-19 entered China from overseas via contaminated frozen food, while a number of foreign politicians in countries including the US have called for more investigations into the possibility it leaked from a laboratory.
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