The Battle Over the Coronavirus Lab-Leak Theory | The New Yorker
The Chinese government has not helped by failing, at almost every stage, to respond transparently to questions or to share information. Beijing s decision, earlier this year, to seriously constrain the work of an investigation sponsored by the World Health Organization meant that the resulting report, which perfunctorily dismissed the lab-leak theory, was not seen as credible. (The director-general of the W.H.O. pointedly told member states, All hypotheses remain on the table. ) There is some concern that exploring the theory will further incite xenophobia with China being blamed for every consequence of a pandemic that the United States also failed to control. Yet Chinese citizens have consistently pushed back against censorship, often at personal risk. According to official figures, COVID-19 has killed almost four million people; a study by The Economist concludes that the true number may be close to thirteen million. Partisanship, in whatever form, can t be the guide here.
Just a nit to pick with this story. The lack of transparency evidently included actually the disappearing — that is the kidnapping and imprisoning and/or murdering — of those scientists who were speaking out about the apparent lab origins of the virus. But of course, the New Yorker has to be so careful of its facts Fact checkers, you know.