China denies Wuhan’s role in coronavirus origin ahead of WHO probe

China, which has been
defending its role against the allegations around coronavirus spread ever since the onset
COVID-19 pandemic broke out, claimed on Friday that the origin of positive cases from
Wuhan does not prove that the contagion originated from the central Chinese city.

The statement
comes in the heels of an inquiry demanded by WHO over China’s role in the
spread of the virus, which the latter has accepted to go through despite the
public denial.

Chinese media, on
the other hand, are conveniently trying to pass on the accusation on foreign routes and imported
food products, including a consignment of fish from
India, saying that traces of COVID-19 have been found in them.

On being asked if
this theory is China’s official view in a media briefing, Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian said, “Even though China was the first to report
coronavirus but doesn’t necessarily mean China is where the virus originated.”

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“So we believe the
origin process is a complex scientific issue that requires joint efforts on
COVID-19 cooperation from the scientific community worldwide. Only by doing so
we can guard against future risks because origin tracing is an evolving and
sustained process that involves many countries and regions,” he added.

In May, the World
Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body of the 194-member states of the WHO,
approved a resolution to set up an independent inquiry to conduct an
“impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation” of the international
response as well as that of WHO.

The WHO, however, has been on
incumbent US President, Donald Trump’s radar for siding and promoting China in
irresponsibly spreading the infection that has been crippling our lives for the
better part of the years now and brought the global economy to a standstill.

Meanwhile, US has
halted WHO funding alleging them for siding with China the Trump administration
has formally notified the UN of its decision to withdraw the US from the global
health body but US President-elect Joe Biden has promised to rejoin it.

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WHO emergency
expert Dr Mike Ryan told the media earlier this week that his organisation has
had assurances from China that an international field trip to investigate the
origins of the new coronavirus will be arranged as soon as possible.

Ryan also noted
that Wuhan’s wet market, where the virus is reported to have originated will be
the prime spot of virus transmission inquiry, but whether that was by human,
animal or environmental spread is not yet known; the AFP report quoted him
saying.

Reportedly, wet
market has been sealed off ever since then.