Let’s be clear, although there have been many attempts to do so by scientists worldwide, so far, no one knows the origin of COVID19, the coronavirus strain responsible for the global pandemic.

COVID-19 has several unique features such as high-affinity human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor binding, a furin (polybasic) cleavage site and certain “open reading frame” derived proteins, all of which come together in a single organism to create an extremely contagious and often deadly virus.

COVID-19 is the seventh member of the family of coronaviruses that infect humans. Although the SARS-CoV coronavirus, responsible for the 2002-2003 pandemic, also binds to the human ACE2 receptor, none of the previously-identified human-infecting coronavirus strains is sufficiently similar to CoVid-19 to be designated its immediate relative or “progenitor.”

Of the comparisons made between COVID-19 and all of the other potential progenitors, including those identified in an article much-cited by the mainstream media, none possess the furin (polybasic) cleavage site, which potentially makes it a marker in the search for the origin of COVID-19, if other structural similarities are also present.

Much like the climate change debate, there appears to be a politically-motivated campaign to demonstrate that COVID-19 occurred naturally as a species “jump” from animals to humans originating in the Wuhan wet market. Despite an extraordinary effort, mainly by the Chinese government, and a flood of publications, there is still little evidence that directly supports that contention.

An alternative interpretation is that COVID-19 “leaked” out of a Wuhan laboratory, either as a yet undescribed or not fully sequenced natural coronavirus isolate e.g. bat coronavirus BtCoV/4991 (GenBank KP876546) or as one manufactured by combining the properties of multiple viruses and subjected to a sequential passage of the recombinant through live animal hosts.

It is important to note that deadly viruses have previously "leaked" out of Chinese virology labs in two separate incidents.

A 2004 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) in China involved two researchers who were working with the virus in a Beijing research lab, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on April 26, 2004, and confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control.

Synthetic biology, that is, the engineering of biology to create biologically-based systems that do not exist in nature is now widely used in laboratories worldwide. It has a number of benefits including as a rapid response platform to provide treatments for emerging diseases.

If unregulated, however, such bioengineering can produce combined or “chimeric” novel human pathogenic microorganisms capable of circumventing therapeutics or vaccines and, if released in nature, could have dramatic and permanent effects on disease transmission among species via natural-occurring mutations of the new viral entity.

The technology to create a coronavirus chimera has been demonstrated.

In a 2015 collaborative study between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and American scientists, funded by the National Institutes of Health, properties of two different viruses, the SHC014-CoV coronavirus and a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV, the coronavirus responsible for the 2002 pandemic, were combined as a chimera. It produced a new viral entity, SHC014-MA15, which, according to the authors, "Despite predictions from both structure-based modelling and pseudotyping experiments" unexpectedly "was viable and replicated to high titers" [a lot] in cell culture (Vero cells) and was capable of infecting human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures [human lung surface cells] and "showed robust replication" comparable to the "epidemic SARS-CoV Urbani strain."

That is, with the appropriate starting coronavirus strains, it is theoretically possible to manufacture a COVID-19-like chimera.

Given the illness, death and economic destruction caused by COVID-19, it is the responsibility of the Chinese government to fully open its research files and databases to international inspection, including information about the hundreds of coronavirus isolates, in order to ascertain the true origin of the COVID-19. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

(This article was originally published on The ZeroHedg Read the <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-army-colonel-ret-yes-covid-19-pandemic-could-have-originated-chinese-lab#comment_stream">original article</a>)

&nbsp;

Let’s be clear, although there have been many attempts to do so by scientists worldwide, so far, no one knows the origin of COVID19, the coronavirus strain responsible for the global pandemic.

Let’s be clear, although there have been many attempts to do so by scientists worldwide, so far, no one knows the origin of COVID19, the coronavirus strain responsible for the global pandemic. COVID-19 has several unique features such as high-affinity human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor binding, a furin (polybasic) cleavage site and certain “open reading frame” derived proteins, all of which come together in a single organism to create an extremely contagious and often deadly virus. COVID-19 is the seventh member of the family of coronaviruses that infect humans. Although the SARS-CoV coronavirus, responsible for the 2002-2003 pandemic, also binds to the human ACE2 receptor, none of the previously-identified human-infecting coronavirus strains is sufficiently similar to CoVid-19 to be designated its immediate relative or “progenitor.” Of the comparisons made between COVID-19 and all of the other potential progenitors, including those identified in an article much-cited by the mainstream media, none possess the furin (polybasic) cleavage site, which potentially makes it a marker in the search for the origin of COVID-19, if other structural similarities are also present. Much like the climate change debate, there appears to be a politically-motivated campaign to demonstrate that COVID-19 occurred naturally as a species “jump” from animals to humans originating in the Wuhan wet market. Despite an extraordinary effort, mainly by the Chinese government, and a flood of publications, there is still little evidence that directly supports that contention. An alternative interpretation is that COVID-19 “leaked” out of a Wuhan laboratory, either as a yet undescribed or not fully sequenced natural coronavirus isolate e.g. bat coronavirus BtCoV/4991 (GenBank KP876546) or as one manufactured by combining the properties of multiple viruses and subjected to a sequential passage of the recombinant through live animal hosts. It is important to note that deadly viruses have previously "leaked" out of Chinese virology labs in two separate incidents. A 2004 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) in China involved two researchers who were working with the virus in a Beijing research lab, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on April 26, 2004, and confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control. Synthetic biology, that is, the engineering of biology to create biologically-based systems that do not exist in nature is now widely used in laboratories worldwide. It has a number of benefits including as a rapid response platform to provide treatments for emerging diseases. If unregulated, however, such bioengineering can produce combined or “chimeric” novel human pathogenic microorganisms capable of circumventing therapeutics or vaccines and, if released in nature, could have dramatic and permanent effects on disease transmission among species via natural-occurring mutations of the new viral entity. The technology to create a coronavirus chimera has been demonstrated. In a 2015 collaborative study between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and American scientists, funded by the National Institutes of Health, properties of two different viruses, the SHC014-CoV coronavirus and a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV, the coronavirus responsible for the 2002 pandemic, were combined as a chimera. It produced a new viral entity, SHC014-MA15, which, according to the authors, "Despite predictions from both structure-based modelling and pseudotyping experiments" unexpectedly "was viable and replicated to high titers" [a lot] in cell culture (Vero cells) and was capable of infecting human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures [human lung surface cells] and "showed robust replication" comparable to the "epidemic SARS-CoV Urbani strain." That is, with the appropriate starting coronavirus strains, it is theoretically possible to manufacture a COVID-19-like chimera. Given the illness, death and economic destruction caused by COVID-19, it is the responsibility of the Chinese government to fully open its research files and databases to international inspection, including information about the hundreds of coronavirus isolates, in order to ascertain the true origin of the COVID-19. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) (This article was originally published on The ZeroHedg Read the original article)

Coronavirus spread: China must allow global probe to ascertain origin of COVID-19

The Narendra Modi government has decided to partially lift the ban on the export of two key drugs, hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol,

India partially lifts ban on export of HCQ

The United States entered one of the most critical weeks so far in the coronavirus crisis with government officials warning the death toll in states such as New York, Michigan and Louisiana

US enters hardest week of Pandemic

The total number of coronavirus cases in India today jumped to 4,067 after nearly 700 new infections were reported in past 24 hours, according to the latest data from Health Ministry.

COVID-19 Cases doubling in India every 4.1 days

Greece recorded its first coronavirus case at the end of February. It has reported 1,425 cases and 53 deaths, excluding the cases on the ferry.

Greece hosts over 100,000 migrants in crowded camps

A pandemic that has so far claimed nearly 70,000 lives and has affected over 12.7 lakh people globally, putting almost half of the world's population under lockdown, is yet to be discussed by the United Nations in what is seen as a failure of the world body in a time of such an unprecedented crisis.

UNSC to discuss virus outbreak this week

Spain said on Saturday that it would extend its lockdown by two weeks to April 25 after the number of coronavirus cases surpassed those in Italy.

Spain extends lockdown across country till April 25

The global recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic will be worse than in 2009, but early signs of a recovery are appearing in China, including renewed pollution, IMF economists said Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-reports-136-new-deaths-as-authorities-say-gradual-downtrend-in-coronvirus-cases-290927" hreflang="en">Iran reports 136 new deaths as authorities say 'gradual downtrend' in coronvirus cases</a>

"The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the world into a recession. For 2020 it will be worse than the global financial crisis," the authors, including International Monetary Fund chief economist Gita Gopinath, said in a blog post.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-boris-johnson-in-good-spirits-after-being-hospitalised-due-to-covid-19-290908" hreflang="en">British PM Boris Johnson in 'good spirits' after being hospitalised due to COVID-19</a>

"The economic damage is mounting across all countries, tracking the sharp rise in new infections and containment measures put in place by governments."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-reports-fewer-than-50-coronavirus-cases-who-lauds-nations-response-290895" hreflang="en">South Korea reports fewer than 50 coronavirus cases; WHO lauds nation's response</a>

China, where the virus appeared in mid-December, was the first hit by the full force of the economic impact as authorities locked down whole regions to try to contain the spread.

The world's second largest economy, China saw a modest recovery in a key manufacturing index in March, and satellite images show increasing concentrations of nitrogen dioxide last month, indicating a pickup in industrial activity and transportation, the blog said.

"The recovery in China, albeit limited, is encouraging, suggesting that containment measures can succeed in controlling the epidemic and pave the way for a resumption of economic activity," the authors wrote.&nbsp;

However, they warned of "huge uncertainty about the future path of the pandemic and a resurgence of its spread in China and other countries cannot be ruled out."

There were more than 82,660 cases in China and 3,335 dead, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there are now 1.3 million confirmed cases.

The global recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic will be worse than in 2009, but early signs of a recovery are appearing in China, including renewed pollution, IMF economists said Monday.

The global recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic will be worse than in 2009, but early signs of a recovery are appearing in China, including renewed pollution, IMF economists said Monday. Also read: Iran reports 136 new deaths as authorities say 'gradual downtrend' in coronvirus cases "The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the world into a recession. For 2020 it will be worse than the global financial crisis," the authors, including International Monetary Fund chief economist Gita Gopinath, said in a blog post. Also read: British PM Boris Johnson in 'good spirits' after being hospitalised due to COVID-19 "The economic damage is mounting across all countries, tracking the sharp rise in new infections and containment measures put in place by governments." Also read: South Korea reports fewer than 50 coronavirus cases; WHO lauds nation's response China, where the virus appeared in mid-December, was the first hit by the full force of the economic impact as authorities locked down whole regions to try to contain the spread. The world's second largest economy, China saw a modest recovery in a key manufacturing index in March, and satellite images show increasing concentrations of nitrogen dioxide last month, indicating a pickup in industrial activity and transportation, the blog said. "The recovery in China, albeit limited, is encouraging, suggesting that containment measures can succeed in controlling the epidemic and pave the way for a resumption of economic activity," the authors wrote. However, they warned of "huge uncertainty about the future path of the pandemic and a resurgence of its spread in China and other countries cannot be ruled out." There were more than 82,660 cases in China and 3,335 dead, according to Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there are now 1.3 million confirmed cases.

Pollution data shows early signs of China recovery: IMF

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to declare state of emergency to curb the spread of coronavirus as the confirmed number of cases in the country surged to over 4,500, local media reported.

Japan all set to declare state of emergency

COVID-19 is hitting refugees camps, these camps could become the worst victims of coronavirus pandemic. Indiscriminate in targeting its victims, COVID-19 exposes the needs of tens of millions of refugees and displaced persons in destitute camps in Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Bangladesh and shantytowns across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Overcrowded migrant camps at high risk of contracting COVID-19

The US President Donald Trump requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to supply Hydroxychloroquine tablets to the United States, so that the drug can be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

US seeks India's help amid coronavirus outbreak

The US President Donald Trump told Americans to brace for a big spike in COVID-19 fatalities in the coming days, as the country faces what he called the toughest two weeks of the pandemic.

COVID-19: Donald Trump warns of toughest two weeks

The global death toll due to the lethal coronavirus has surpassed 64,000. Over 708 new COVID-19 deaths have been reported in UK in 24 hours. Despite several warnings from authorities to stay at home, people are not following guidelines.

UK residents hit beaches, parks amid lockdown | Coronavirus Pandemic

Queen Elizabeth II is set to address to the nation and commonwealth countries about the coronavirus pandemic. In the message, the Queen will urge people to rise to the challenge posed by the coronavirus outbreak and will personally thank frontline healthcare staff and other key workers for their efforts during the crisis.

Queen Elizabeth II to address nation over COVID-19

The global death toll due to the lethal coronavirus has surpassed 64,000. Reports suggests that 85% of COVID-19 deaths in Europe has occurred in Spain, Italy, France and United Kingdom.

Over 708 new COVID-19 deaths reported in UK in 24 hours

In the 24 hours through 12 a.m. on Friday, 562 people, died from the virus in New York State, bringing the total death toll to nearly 3,000, double

COVID-19 deaths surge in New York City

The Wuhan Coronavirus has now infected more than 1 million people in 181 countries and regions. India is reporting more than 2,000 active cases. WION's Palki Sharma brings you the latest numbers.

Gravitas: More than one million people infected | Wuhan Coronavirus

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have begun providing emergency funds to developing and low-income countries across the world to strengthen their efforts to battle the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

IMF & World Bank's appeal to developed countries

At the moment there is no singular cure to coronavirus, medical specialist can only treat symptoms. From potential vaccines to antibody treatment. Watch our report to know more.

Watch: The race to develop COVID-19 vaccine

The United States recorded 1,169 deaths from COVID-19 in last 24 hours, which is the worst 24-hour death toll since the pandemic began. The total number of people who have died since the start of the pandemic in the United States is over 7,000.

COVID-19: 1,169 dead in US in last 24 hours

According to Morgan Stanley, the US economy is all set to shrink 5.5% in 2020. This would be the the worst decline since 1946.

COVID-19: US economy stares at worst fall since 1946

while addressing the leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the creation of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Fund for SAARC.

5 Indian Medical teams on standby to help SAARC countries

COVID-19 death toll in NY more than 9/11 fatalities

The global battle to acquire supplies | Coronavirus News | COVID-19 cases Individual governments have defended decisions to keep medical equipment at home, arguing they must take care of their medical workers and patients first

The global battle to acquire supplies

An intranasal vacccine for COVID-19 is under development by Indian pharma company Bharat Biotech. It announced yesterday that a unique intranasal vacccine named 'CoroFlu' is under development.

Indian pharma begins development and testing of COVID-19 vaccine

Coronavirus has taken the lives of over 2,900 people in the UK, with more than 33,700 infected. UK has reported 569 people dead in 24 hours.

Coronavirus Pandemic: UK records highest deaths in 24 hours

Designers in Germany are finding ways to make mask wearing more appealing. Munich-based designer Pia Bolte, is producing a selection of colourful masks, also has a slogan selection with the very popular: 'fuck the virus' design.

German designers' make special masks with a message

The US President Donald Trump informed reporters that he tested negative for the virus, saying: "I just took it this morning, it said the president tested negative for COVID-19." The United States reported the highest one-day death toll due to coronavirus recording 1,169 fatalities in the past 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University live COVID-19 tracker.

Donald Trump again tests negative for coronavirus

What else is making news in the world? Watch this video for a quick check.

Coronavirus fears in Nigeria camps, Brazil prepares more graves

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfares held a press conference on COVID-19 cases in India. Health Ministry, Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that all our efforts will go waste if we don't practice and follow social distancing. Watch the video to know more:

India's Health Ministry briefs media: Efforts will waste if social distancing not followed

The World Bank on Thursday (April 2) approved $1 billion emergency financing to India in order to support better screening of COVID-10 patients, contact tracing and laboratory diagnostics.

World Bank allocates funds to fight coronavirus

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