WHO releases report on global tracing of COVID-19 origin

A medical staff member (C) administering a dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine at a university in Qingdao in China. Pic/AFP

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday released a report on the global tracing of Covid-19 origins, following a joint research with China on issues including the pathways of the virus and future investigation in different countries.

A total of 34 experts from the WHO and China jointly conducted a 28-day research from January 14 to February 10 in Wuhan, China, Xinhua news agency reported. They made assessment of the likelihood of possible pathways.

According to the report, Covid-19 introduction through an intermediate host is "likely to very likely," introduction through cold/food chain products is "possible," and introduction through a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely".

China believes that the joint research will play a positive role in promoting global cooperation in Covid-19 origin tracing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

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