In spite of political pressure, on July 5, 2021, 24 courageous scientists published an open letter in journal The Lancet to give a clear answer to the origin of COVID-19. They urged that science, not speculation, is essential to determine how the virus infected humans. The authors are scientists from universities and institutes in countries including the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Malaysia and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In the letter, the scientists reaffirmed that, "Expression of solidarity with those in China who confronted the outbreak then , and the many health professionals around the world" and reiterated that, "The virus most likely originated in nature and not in a laboratory — based on early genetic analysis of the new virus and well established evidence from previous emerging infectious diseases."
"We believe the strongest clue from new, credible, and peer-reviewed evidence in scientific literature is that the virus evolved in nature, while suggestions of a laboratory-leak source of the pandemic remain without scientifically validated evidence that directly supports it in peer-reviewed scientific journals," said the letter.
It is not the first time that scientists have called on the origin tracing of COVID-19 to be done scientifically and not through speculation.
Publishing the letter was regarded as a bold move in refuting the politically manipulated conspiracies concerning the origins of COVID-19.
"China has repeatedly said that the origin-tracing is a scientific matter that requires international cooperation by scientists across the globe," Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on July 5. "Politicizing the issue of origin-tracing will only seriously hamper global cooperation in this regard, undermine global efforts to fight COVID-19 and cost more lives," he said.
Some scientists upholding the spirit of objectivity, impartiality and science in origin-tracing research, have been confronted with mounting political pressure, verbal abuse and even threats.
On March 30, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report: WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2: China Part, which clearly states that, "A laboratory origin of the pandemic was considered to be extremely unlikely." People who are engaged in the political manipulation of the virus origin still cannot alter the authoritative conclusion reached by the WHO's joint mission.
The international community respects science and upholds justice. This trend will not change.
The 24 scientists' brave and clear way of refuting rumors and dismissing politically driven conspiracy theories, is very much needed, which is and will always be welcomed by scientists, officials and the international community.