China reported its first Wuhan virus cases in December 2019. But a study has found that the PLA, China's Centre for Disease Control & Chinese universities were buying PCR tests in Hubei in May 2019. Palki Sharma tells you about the explosive revelations.

Gravitas: Chinese officials were buying PCR tests in May 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone into self-isolation. Putin's inner circle at Kremlin has tested positive for the Wuhan Virus. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus breaches Kremlin

Do we need to take a Wuhan virus vaccine booster shot? Many countries are already offering one. Israel is offering booster shots to children as young as 12. Are booster shots being given for protection or profit? WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Booster shot: Do we really need one?

China's virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-bat-woman-at-the-center-of-a-pandemic-storm-speaks-out-391613">“bat woman”</a>, who heads the Wuhan lab has predicted that "new variants will continue to emerge" even as the world battles the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.

Zhengli said the virus had "become too big" which allowed it to "mutate and select", while urging people to get vaccinated.

The top&nbsp;Chinese virologist's concern comes as Wuhan authorities last week tested all 11 million residents after an outbreak was reported among migrant workers.

Watch:

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"We shouldn't panic, but we need to prepare to co-exist with the virus in the long term," China's controversial bat woman said.

Chinese authorities mobilised 28,000 health workers in thousands of testing sites across the city. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-tests-all-residents-as-chinas-virus-cases-reach-six-month-high-404132">Wuhan</a> which first reported the virus in 2019 had reported zero cases for several months, however, the highly transferrable Delta variant has spread rapidly across the country in recent weeks with Nanjing becoming the epicentre of the virus.

Health officials in China have put several cities on<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-expands-covid-lockdown-amid-surge-in-new-virus-cases-404379"> lockdown </a>and undertaken mass testing amid a surge in virus cases.&nbsp;

BioNTech's CEO Ugur Sahin said recently that the Pfizer vaccine works against coronavirus variants such as the Delta while saying that, "it is quite possible that in the next six to 12 months, further variants will emerge."

Sahin asserted that the first generation vaccine is effective&nbsp;although he added that a decision to switch might "turn out to be wrong in three or six months if another variant is dominating. Therefore the timing of the decision must be appropriate".

"At the moment we have a good understanding that the booster vaccine with the parental strain is completely sufficient," Sahin stressed.

Pfizer-BioNTech has shipped around one billion doses of their vaccines to more than 100 countries even as several countries including Australia, US, Indonesia, Russia, Iran have witnessed a resurgence of virus cases.

(With inputs from Agencies)

China's virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as “bat woman”, who heads the Wuhan lab has predicted that "new variants will continue to emerge" even as the world battles the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.

China's virologist Shi Zhengli, also known as “bat woman”, who heads the Wuhan lab has predicted that "new variants will continue to emerge" even as the world battles the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19. Zhengli said the virus had "become too big" which allowed it to "mutate and select", while urging people to get vaccinated. The top Chinese virologist's concern comes as Wuhan authorities last week tested all 11 million residents after an outbreak was reported among migrant workers. Watch: "We shouldn't panic, but we need to prepare to co-exist with the virus in the long term," China's controversial bat woman said. Chinese authorities mobilised 28,000 health workers in thousands of testing sites across the city. Wuhan which first reported the virus in 2019 had reported zero cases for several months, however, the highly transferrable Delta variant has spread rapidly across the country in recent weeks with Nanjing becoming the epicentre of the virus. Health officials in China have put several cities on lockdown and undertaken mass testing amid a surge in virus cases. BioNTech's CEO Ugur Sahin said recently that the Pfizer vaccine works against coronavirus variants such as the Delta while saying that, "it is quite possible that in the next six to 12 months, further variants will emerge." Sahin asserted that the first generation vaccine is effective although he added that a decision to switch might "turn out to be wrong in three or six months if another variant is dominating. Therefore the timing of the decision must be appropriate". "At the moment we have a good understanding that the booster vaccine with the parental strain is completely sufficient," Sahin stressed. Pfizer-BioNTech has shipped around one billion doses of their vaccines to more than 100 countries even as several countries including Australia, US, Indonesia, Russia, Iran have witnessed a resurgence of virus cases. (With inputs from Agencies)

Warning from Wuhan's 'bat woman': New Covid variants will continue to emerge, says Shi Zhengli

China's Wuhan city officials said they had completed coronavirus tests of all 11 million people amid a resurgence of the virus in the country.

The health officials said except for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-under-threat-as-us-battles-current-virus-outbreak-404108">children</a> under six and students on summer break all residents were tested for the virus.

Meanwhile, residents of Yangzhou city stood in queue on the street to get their COVID-19 tests amid a surge in infections caused by the Delta variant.&nbsp;

Watch:

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China on Monday reported 94 new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/constellation-names-for-new-covid-variants-that-could-evade-vaccines-who-404058">coronavirus</a> cases with 40 cases detected in Zhengzhou and 38 in Yangzhou.

Last week on Thursday the country had reported 124 coronavirus cases with 80 locally transmitted cases including 62 on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The eastern Jiangsu province has become the epicentre of the virus even as new cases were discovered in the provincial city of Yangzhou on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River near Shanghai.

Wuhan which was the epicentre of the virus last year reported cases among migrant workers triggering a city-wide testing campaign on Tuesday.

Reports say 28,000 health workers across the city were mobilised and thousands of testing sites were set up as officials battled to test all citizens.

Health officials say the Delta virus has been responsible for the latest surge as millions of people have been put under lockdown across various towns in the country and domestic traffic links cut amid large scale testing.

The authorities have also cut down on air travel with documents needed for "non-essential and non-emergency" cases however a blanket ban on air travel hasn't been put in place.

The virus cases have been the highest since January in China with over 500 domestic cases reported since mid-July. The outbreak is believed to have started among airport cleaners in Nanjing in Jiangsu province and it spread rapidly thereafter.

The local authorities in Nanjing had cut down domestic travel and banned taxi services in and around the outbreak area. Officials said Nanjing residents comprising of 9.2 million were tested three times.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

China's Wuhan city officials said they had completed coronavirus tests of all 11 million people amid a resurgence of the virus in the country. The health officials said except for children under six and students on summer break all residents were tested for the virus.

China's Wuhan city officials said they had completed coronavirus tests of all 11 million people amid a resurgence of the virus in the country. The health officials said except for children under six and students on summer break all residents were tested for the virus. Meanwhile, residents of Yangzhou city stood in queue on the street to get their COVID-19 tests amid a surge in infections caused by the Delta variant. Watch: China on Monday reported 94 new coronavirus cases with 40 cases detected in Zhengzhou and 38 in Yangzhou. Last week on Thursday the country had reported 124 coronavirus cases with 80 locally transmitted cases including 62 on Wednesday. The eastern Jiangsu province has become the epicentre of the virus even as new cases were discovered in the provincial city of Yangzhou on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River near Shanghai. Wuhan which was the epicentre of the virus last year reported cases among migrant workers triggering a city-wide testing campaign on Tuesday. Reports say 28,000 health workers across the city were mobilised and thousands of testing sites were set up as officials battled to test all citizens. Health officials say the Delta virus has been responsible for the latest surge as millions of people have been put under lockdown across various towns in the country and domestic traffic links cut amid large scale testing. The authorities have also cut down on air travel with documents needed for "non-essential and non-emergency" cases however a blanket ban on air travel hasn't been put in place. The virus cases have been the highest since January in China with over 500 domestic cases reported since mid-July. The outbreak is believed to have started among airport cleaners in Nanjing in Jiangsu province and it spread rapidly thereafter. The local authorities in Nanjing had cut down domestic travel and banned taxi services in and around the outbreak area. Officials said Nanjing residents comprising of 9.2 million were tested three times. (With inputs from Agencies)

Wuhan tests all residents as China's virus cases reach six-month high

The highly transmissible <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-faces-worst-covid-19-outbreak-since-wuhan-surge-of-delta-variant-in-15-cities-401972">Delta</a> variant continues to spread in China as the country reported 96 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday registering an increase of six cases compared to Tuesday.

The health authorities said 71 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases were detected in&nbsp;the country as officials battle&nbsp;with a surge in cases.

Watch:

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Reports say China has ramped up its vaccination drive in schools incoulating children aged 12 to 17 to contain the Delta varient.

Chinese authorities ramped up testing&nbsp;to a record high amid the rise in cases with contact tracing undertaken on a mass scale. The country has reported at least 500 domestic cases since mid-July worrying health officials.

Authorities in Wuhan launched a testing campaign on Tuesday covering the entire 11 million population. The city which was the epicentre of the virus last year recorded the first local infections in over a year this week as nucleic acid testing was launched for all residents.

The authorities in Wuhan had declared that virus cases was found among migrant workers in the city.

Officials in Nanjing which is believed to be the new hotspot has become the focal point for authorities with testing carried out among the entire population&nbsp;as authorities moved to quickly shut down&nbsp;gyms, cinemas and residential areas to combat the virus.

People in Nanjing were not allowed to leave the city after virus cases were detected during a theatre performance.

Chinese officials have locked down several areas in the country as the virus continues to spread and closed airports restricting travel in the country as summer peaks.

Millions of people in cities have been confined to their homes by officials as mass-testing program has been unleashed across the country.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

The highly transmissible Delta variant continues to spread in China as the country reported 96 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday registering an increase of six cases compared to Tuesday.

The highly transmissible Delta variant continues to spread in China as the country reported 96 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday registering an increase of six cases compared to Tuesday. The health authorities said 71 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases were detected in the country as officials battle with a surge in cases. Watch: Reports say China has ramped up its vaccination drive in schools incoulating children aged 12 to 17 to contain the Delta varient. Chinese authorities ramped up testing to a record high amid the rise in cases with contact tracing undertaken on a mass scale. The country has reported at least 500 domestic cases since mid-July worrying health officials. Authorities in Wuhan launched a testing campaign on Tuesday covering the entire 11 million population. The city which was the epicentre of the virus last year recorded the first local infections in over a year this week as nucleic acid testing was launched for all residents. The authorities in Wuhan had declared that virus cases was found among migrant workers in the city. Officials in Nanjing which is believed to be the new hotspot has become the focal point for authorities with testing carried out among the entire population as authorities moved to quickly shut down gyms, cinemas and residential areas to combat the virus. People in Nanjing were not allowed to leave the city after virus cases were detected during a theatre performance. Chinese officials have locked down several areas in the country as the virus continues to spread and closed airports restricting travel in the country as summer peaks. Millions of people in cities have been confined to their homes by officials as mass-testing program has been unleashed across the country. (With inputs from Agencies)

China expands vaccinating drive among school kids to contain virus surge

A day after Wuhan recorded seven new coronavirus cases,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-provinces-face-lockdown-amid-rise-in-delta-virus-cases-402412"> Chinese</a> authorities said the entire population of the city will be tested.

Wuhan official Li Tao said nucleic acid testing will be carried out for all residents. Officials had earlier linked the latest coronavirus cases to a train station with the infected cases identified among&nbsp;migrant workers.

Wuhan which was the epicentre of the virus last year has kept the virus largely under control for the past year but has once again seen locally transmitted cases rise.

Watch:

 
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The development comes as China has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases in the past week with several provinces in lockdown.

On Monday, China reported 55 new coronavirus cases with the highly transferable Delta variant reaching over 20 cities in the country.

China has once again ramped up tested with millions tested in capital Beijing even as Zhuzhou in Hunan province was placed in lockdown along with the tourist destination of Zhangjiajie.

Beijing authorities have disallowed tourists from entering the capital as summer travel peaks with just "essential travellers" allowed in the capital.

Health officials had earlier identified the eastern city of Nanjing as a virus hotspot with the Delta variant spreading fast throughout the country.

Jiangsu in Nanjing reported 30 new locally transmitted cases as authorities grapple&nbsp;with the virus. Reports say coronavirus cases in Nanjing has risen to 180 with all flights out of Nanjing cancelled.

Over 1,500 people linked to Nanjing airport have been ordered to quarantine at home for 14 days.

China's Henan province also recorded fresh COVID-19 cases as flood-hit Zhengzhou reported 11 new cases over the weekend.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

A day after Wuhan recorded seven new coronavirus cases, Chinese authorities said the entire population of the city will be tested. Wuhan official Li Tao said nucleic acid testing will be carried out for all residents.

A day after Wuhan recorded seven new coronavirus cases, Chinese authorities said the entire population of the city will be tested. Wuhan official Li Tao said nucleic acid testing will be carried out for all residents. Officials had earlier linked the latest coronavirus cases to a train station with the infected cases identified among migrant workers. Wuhan which was the epicentre of the virus last year has kept the virus largely under control for the past year but has once again seen locally transmitted cases rise. Watch: The development comes as China has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases in the past week with several provinces in lockdown. On Monday, China reported 55 new coronavirus cases with the highly transferable Delta variant reaching over 20 cities in the country. China has once again ramped up tested with millions tested in capital Beijing even as Zhuzhou in Hunan province was placed in lockdown along with the tourist destination of Zhangjiajie. Beijing authorities have disallowed tourists from entering the capital as summer travel peaks with just "essential travellers" allowed in the capital. Health officials had earlier identified the eastern city of Nanjing as a virus hotspot with the Delta variant spreading fast throughout the country. Jiangsu in Nanjing reported 30 new locally transmitted cases as authorities grapple with the virus. Reports say coronavirus cases in Nanjing has risen to 180 with all flights out of Nanjing cancelled. Over 1,500 people linked to Nanjing airport have been ordered to quarantine at home for 14 days. China's Henan province also recorded fresh COVID-19 cases as flood-hit Zhengzhou reported 11 new cases over the weekend. (With inputs from Agencies)

Chinese authorities to test all Wuhan residents amid virus surge

The Wuhan Virus is making a comeback in America. Daily average cases have reached 57,000. 97% of all hospitalisations are among unvaccinated people. WION's Palki Sharma asks: Should people acknowledge their disregard for norms & science before blaming governments?

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus is making a comeback in the United States

After the World Health Organization (WHO) asked for the second stage of&nbsp;international probe into the origin of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pfizer-astrazeneca-vaccine-antibody-levels-may-decline-after-2-3-months-lancet-study-400925">coronavirus</a> pandemic&nbsp;including audit&nbsp;of Chinese labs, China's foreign ministry slammed the move saying, "WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick."

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If labs are to be investigated, then the WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick. The US should act transparently &amp; responsibly as soon as possible and invite WHO experts for an inquiry into the Fort Detrick lab. Only in this way can truth be revealed to the world.
— Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) <a href="https://twitter.com/zlj517/status/1419667866140377088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"If labs are to be investigated, then the WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick. The US should act transparently &amp; responsibly as soon as possible and invite WHO experts for an inquiry into the Fort Detrick lab," China's foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao said.

"Only in this way can truth be revealed to the world," Zhao added.

Watch:

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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said audits should include "relevant laboratories and research institutions operating in the area of the initial human cases identified in December 2019" after the virus was first discovered in Wuhan.

China's vice health minister Zeng Yixin had expressed surprise over the plan. Yuan Zhiming, director of the National Biosafety Laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology added that "no pathogen leakage or staff infection accidents have occurred" since the lab opened three years ago.

"We hope the WHO would seriously review the considerations and suggestions made by Chinese experts and truly treat the origin tracing of the COVID-19 virus as a scientific matter," Zeng Yixin, China's vice minister of national health commission said.

Zeng hit out at the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-resilient-singapore-aims-to-start-quarantine-free-travel-400803"> virus</a> investigation by the WHO asserting that it should "get rid of political interference" and "steadily promote investigation into the origin of the virus in multiple regions around the world".

The WHO chief has urged Chinese authorities to be "transparent" on sharing information about the virus in the second phase of investigation as he called for more studies of animal markets around Wuhan.

The UN health agency had sent an expert team in January to China after over a year since the pandemic began however it reportedly wasn't able to find conclusive evidence.

WHO officials had said Chinese authorities hadn't shared raw data during the first phase of the investigation when experts visited the country.

(With inputs from Agencies)

After the World Health Organization (WHO) asked for the second stage of international probe into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic including audit of Chinese labs, China's foreign ministry slammed the move saying, "WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick.

After the World Health Organization (WHO) asked for the second stage of international probe into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic including audit of Chinese labs, China's foreign ministry slammed the move saying, "WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick." If labs are to be investigated, then the WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick. The US should act transparently & responsibly as soon as possible and invite WHO experts for an inquiry into the Fort Detrick lab. Only in this way can truth be revealed to the world. — Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@zlj517) July 26, 2021 × "If labs are to be investigated, then the WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick. The US should act transparently & responsibly as soon as possible and invite WHO experts for an inquiry into the Fort Detrick lab," China's foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao said. "Only in this way can truth be revealed to the world," Zhao added. Watch: WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said audits should include "relevant laboratories and research institutions operating in the area of the initial human cases identified in December 2019" after the virus was first discovered in Wuhan. China's vice health minister Zeng Yixin had expressed surprise over the plan. Yuan Zhiming, director of the National Biosafety Laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology added that "no pathogen leakage or staff infection accidents have occurred" since the lab opened three years ago. "We hope the WHO would seriously review the considerations and suggestions made by Chinese experts and truly treat the origin tracing of the COVID-19 virus as a scientific matter," Zeng Yixin, China's vice minister of national health commission said. Zeng hit out at the virus investigation by the WHO asserting that it should "get rid of political interference" and "steadily promote investigation into the origin of the virus in multiple regions around the world". The WHO chief has urged Chinese authorities to be "transparent" on sharing information about the virus in the second phase of investigation as he called for more studies of animal markets around Wuhan. The UN health agency had sent an expert team in January to China after over a year since the pandemic began however it reportedly wasn't able to find conclusive evidence. WHO officials had said Chinese authorities hadn't shared raw data during the first phase of the investigation when experts visited the country. (With inputs from Agencies)

WHO experts should go to Fort Detrick lab: China links US to coronavirus origin

During Monday's talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the highest-ranking Biden administration envoy to visit China, China urged the US to stop "demonising" it.&nbsp;

"The hope may be that by demonising China, the US could somehow... blame China for its structural problems," China's foreign ministry said in a statement, adding the relationship between the nations is in a "stalemate and faces serious difficulties."

Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab

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On July 22, China's National Health Commission rejected the WHO plan for a second phase of the investigation. Later, the US had expressed disappointment with the decision and termed it "dangerous".

Leading infectious disease scientists in the United States are warning that China's rejection of a World Health Organization plan for a new Covid-19 probe inside the country risks losing the rest of the world of crucial data required to detect and prevent future pandemics.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab?

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China has also refused to reveal information about hospital admissions, claiming that doing so would violate individual privacy.

The lab-leak scenario has acquired a lot of popularity recently, prompting US President Joe Biden to assign the American intelligence team a 90-day deadline to figure out where the virus came from.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

During Monday's talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the highest-ranking Biden administration envoy to visit China, China urged the US to stop "demonising" it.

During Monday's talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the highest-ranking Biden administration envoy to visit China, China urged the US to stop "demonising" it. "The hope may be that by demonising China, the US could somehow... blame China for its structural problems," China's foreign ministry said in a statement, adding the relationship between the nations is in a "stalemate and faces serious difficulties." Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab On July 22, China's National Health Commission rejected the WHO plan for a second phase of the investigation. Later, the US had expressed disappointment with the decision and termed it "dangerous". Leading infectious disease scientists in the United States are warning that China's rejection of a World Health Organization plan for a new Covid-19 probe inside the country risks losing the rest of the world of crucial data required to detect and prevent future pandemics. Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab? China has also refused to reveal information about hospital admissions, claiming that doing so would violate individual privacy. The lab-leak scenario has acquired a lot of popularity recently, prompting US President Joe Biden to assign the American intelligence team a 90-day deadline to figure out where the virus came from. (With inputs from agencies)

Stop 'demonising' China: Beijing urges the US as envoy visits

China on Monday reported 76 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily rise since January, including 40 domestic transmissions prompting authorities to test millions in eastern Jiangsu province.&nbsp;

Beijing has a zero-risk approach to the virus, which emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. It locks down cities and mass tests whenever small clusters appear. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-demonising-china-beijing-urges-the-us-as-envoy-visits-400627">Also read | Stop 'demonising' China: Beijing urges the US as envoy visits</a>

Tens of thousands of people are under lockdown in Jiangsu's provincial capital Nanjing as authorities test the city's 9.2 million residents after an outbreak linked to its airport last week.&nbsp;

"Of the 40 domestic cases, 39 were from Jiangsu province and one from Liaoning," the national health commission said in a statement Monday, adding there had been no new deaths.

Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab

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Contact tracing also found five individuals who travelled through the Nanjing airport and tested positive after arriving in neighbouring Anhui and three other provinces, sparking fears that the cluster could lead to a fresh nationwide outbreak.

This prompted Nanjing officials to announce the second round of mass testing for all residents starting Sunday to identify patients who may take longer than usual to show symptoms.&nbsp;

Beijing has rushed to curb recent mini-outbreaks in border provinces, aware of the risks of the fast-spreading Delta variant. &nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab?

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One new case was reported Monday in the northeastern province of Liaoning that borders North Korea, bringing the total number of local transmissions in the region to five since Thursday.

Yunnan in the southwest has reported a spike in infections traced to neighbouring Myanmar, where the military government that seized power in February is struggling to contain a coronavirus surge.&nbsp;

The province has reported 79 cases since June 20 with nearly half linked to Myanmar.

Beijing has tightened border controls and even supplied over 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines to the Kachin Independence Army, a spokesman for the rebel group said Saturday.

The border town of Ruili in Yunnan is using facial recognition to track people's movements and health status as they enter and exit residential areas, supermarkets, transport hubs and other public places to squash the virus spread.

The southern manufacturing hub of Guangdong is building a quarantine clinic for international arrivals with 5,000 beds after being hit by a recent virus outbreak.

China has recorded 92,605 virus cases and 4,636 deaths since the initial outbreak in late 2019.

China on Monday reported 76 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily rise since January, including 40 domestic transmissions prompting authorities to test millions in eastern Jiangsu province.

China on Monday reported 76 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily rise since January, including 40 domestic transmissions prompting authorities to test millions in eastern Jiangsu province. Beijing has a zero-risk approach to the virus, which emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. It locks down cities and mass tests whenever small clusters appear. Also read | Stop 'demonising' China: Beijing urges the US as envoy visits Tens of thousands of people are under lockdown in Jiangsu's provincial capital Nanjing as authorities test the city's 9.2 million residents after an outbreak linked to its airport last week. "Of the 40 domestic cases, 39 were from Jiangsu province and one from Liaoning," the national health commission said in a statement Monday, adding there had been no new deaths. Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab Contact tracing also found five individuals who travelled through the Nanjing airport and tested positive after arriving in neighbouring Anhui and three other provinces, sparking fears that the cluster could lead to a fresh nationwide outbreak. This prompted Nanjing officials to announce the second round of mass testing for all residents starting Sunday to identify patients who may take longer than usual to show symptoms. Beijing has rushed to curb recent mini-outbreaks in border provinces, aware of the risks of the fast-spreading Delta variant. Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab? One new case was reported Monday in the northeastern province of Liaoning that borders North Korea, bringing the total number of local transmissions in the region to five since Thursday. Yunnan in the southwest has reported a spike in infections traced to neighbouring Myanmar, where the military government that seized power in February is struggling to contain a coronavirus surge. The province has reported 79 cases since June 20 with nearly half linked to Myanmar. Beijing has tightened border controls and even supplied over 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines to the Kachin Independence Army, a spokesman for the rebel group said Saturday. The border town of Ruili in Yunnan is using facial recognition to track people's movements and health status as they enter and exit residential areas, supermarkets, transport hubs and other public places to squash the virus spread. The southern manufacturing hub of Guangdong is building a quarantine clinic for international arrivals with 5,000 beds after being hit by a recent virus outbreak. China has recorded 92,605 virus cases and 4,636 deaths since the initial outbreak in late 2019.

New outbreak of COVID-19 in China: Highest daily rise since January

China is blocking the World Health Organization's call for a new investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, which includes looking into whether it leaked from a lab, claiming that there is no proof for the theory and that it violates common sense.&nbsp;

China warned that a WHO plan to inspect Chinese labs as part of a larger investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak demonstrates "disrespect" and "arrogance toward science."

Following increased pressure from the US for an investigation into a biotech facility in Wuhan, the WHO stated last week that a second stage of the international probe should include audits of Chinese facilities.&nbsp;

Liang Wannian, an epidemiologist who led a team of Chinese scientists working with the WHO said that the Wuhan laboratory "never possessed the virus."

“There's no reason for us to devote further resources to a lab leak investigation.”&nbsp;

"Audits of relevant laboratories and research institutions functioning in the vicinity of the initial human cases detected in December 2019," is one of the key aspects of the probe,&nbsp;according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was referring to the Chinese city of Wuhan.&nbsp;

Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab

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The search for the virus's origins has been marred by debate, with officials in Beijing and Washington promoting opposing viewpoints on how the illness emerged.&nbsp;

Chinese officials stated that they are determined to learn more about the novel coronavirus's origins, which they believe should be based on science. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-was-chinas-batwoman-up-to-at-the-wuhan-lab-391738/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Political posturing has tainted the WHO's plans to make the lab leak hypothesis a priority for the next round of investigation, displaying "arrogance against science," they said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

China is blocking the World Health Organization's call for a new investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, which includes looking into whether it leaked from a lab, claiming that there is no proof for the theory and that it violates common sense.

China is blocking the World Health Organization's call for a new investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, which includes looking into whether it leaked from a lab, claiming that there is no proof for the theory and that it violates common sense. China warned that a WHO plan to inspect Chinese labs as part of a larger investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak demonstrates "disrespect" and "arrogance toward science." Following increased pressure from the US for an investigation into a biotech facility in Wuhan, the WHO stated last week that a second stage of the international probe should include audits of Chinese facilities. Liang Wannian, an epidemiologist who led a team of Chinese scientists working with the WHO said that the Wuhan laboratory "never possessed the virus." “There's no reason for us to devote further resources to a lab leak investigation.” "Audits of relevant laboratories and research institutions functioning in the vicinity of the initial human cases detected in December 2019," is one of the key aspects of the probe, according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was referring to the Chinese city of Wuhan. Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab The search for the virus's origins has been marred by debate, with officials in Beijing and Washington promoting opposing viewpoints on how the illness emerged. Chinese officials stated that they are determined to learn more about the novel coronavirus's origins, which they believe should be based on science. Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab? Political posturing has tainted the WHO's plans to make the lab leak hypothesis a priority for the next round of investigation, displaying "arrogance against science," they said. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: Wuhan lab leak study — China opposes virus origins probe

WHO Director General Tedros told reporters that the UN health agency based in Geneva is asking actually China to be transparent, open and cooperate, especially on the information, raw data that we asked for at the early days of the pandemic"

'Lack of credible data over the virus origin', says WHO Chief Tedros

W.H.O has warned against vaccine cocktails, but Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau have endorsed it. They have even inoculated themselves with different vaccines.

Gravitas: Should you mix and match Wuhan Virus vaccines? Is it safe?

Around a year back, more than 200 virus samples from China "mysteriously disappeared" from a US database. This included samples of early cases from Wuhan. Why did Chinese scientists delete the data? Palki Sharma has the answers.

Gravitas: Why did China delete 200+ virus samples from Wuhan?

The Wuhan laboratory in China, which is suspected of leaking COVID-19, has been nominated for China's top science award.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has nominated the Wuhan Institute of Virology for its Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize in 2021, according to reports.

Shi Zhengli, head of Wuhan Institute of Virology, dubbed as batwoman, also received a special mention from the academy. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab

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According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the controversial lab has been nominated for the award for conducting "the most comprehensive and systematic identification research on the aetiology of COVID-19."

In medical context, aetiology refers to the investigation or attribution of the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition.

"The project's results have laid an important foundation and platform for the follow-up research on the origin, epidemiology, and pathogenic mechanism of the COVID-19 virus," said the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-was-chinas-batwoman-up-to-at-the-wuhan-lab-391738/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Wuhan Institute of Virology's research also contributed to the containment of the coronavirus pandemic and the development of COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the academy.

Dr Zhengli, the lab's director, has been accused of conducting "gain-of-function" (GOF) experiments, in which scientists boost the strength of a virus to better analyse its effects on hosts.

Many scientists think the coronavirus slipped out of Dr Zhengli's lab.

Dr Zhengli, on the other hand, refuted all accusations regarding the virus breach from the lab, adding, "How on earth can I bring up evidence for something where there is no evidence?"&nbsp;

The Wuhan laboratory in China, which is suspected of leaking COVID-19, has been nominated for China's top science award. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has nominated the Wuhan Institute of Virology for its Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize in 2021, according to reports.

The Wuhan laboratory in China, which is suspected of leaking COVID-19, has been nominated for China's top science award. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has nominated the Wuhan Institute of Virology for its Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize in 2021, according to reports. Shi Zhengli, head of Wuhan Institute of Virology, dubbed as batwoman, also received a special mention from the academy. Watch | Gravitas: Caught On Camera: Bats locked up inside the Wuhan lab According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the controversial lab has been nominated for the award for conducting "the most comprehensive and systematic identification research on the aetiology of COVID-19." In medical context, aetiology refers to the investigation or attribution of the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition. "The project's results have laid an important foundation and platform for the follow-up research on the origin, epidemiology, and pathogenic mechanism of the COVID-19 virus," said the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Watch | Gravitas: What was China's Batwoman up to at the Wuhan lab? The Wuhan Institute of Virology's research also contributed to the containment of the coronavirus pandemic and the development of COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the academy. Dr Zhengli, the lab's director, has been accused of conducting "gain-of-function" (GOF) experiments, in which scientists boost the strength of a virus to better analyse its effects on hosts. Many scientists think the coronavirus slipped out of Dr Zhengli's lab. Dr Zhengli, on the other hand, refuted all accusations regarding the virus breach from the lab, adding, "How on earth can I bring up evidence for something where there is no evidence?"

Wuhan lab suspected of leaking COVID-19 nominated for top science award in China

A Ugandan Olympic coach has tested positive for the Wuhan virus, even after vaccination. India says the Olympic rules are highly unfair for Indian athletes. With the opposition within Japan growing, will the Olympics be cancelled again? Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Ugandan Olympic coach tests positive for Wuhan virus after vaccination

No social distancing, masks at Wuhan's mass graduation ceremony

How safe are we from lab leaks? Most high-security labs - like the one in Wuhan - are located in urban areas. But, a report claims that just six labs in the world have high levels of biosafety preparedness. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the world is not prepared to stop a lab leak.

Gravitas: Why the world is not prepared to stop lab leaks

A new study has claimed that Chinese scientists created coronavirus in a Wuhan lab, then tried to reverse-engineer versions of the virus.

'Chinese scientists created Coronavirus in lab, it wasn't natural': Indian scientists

Nineteen months after coronavirus began stalking the globe to claim at least 3.5 million human lives, the world has no clue to the origin of this devastating pathogen.

Speculation abounds over whether the deadly virus, SARS-CoV-2, which along with its mutations causes COVID-19, emerged naturally through human contact with an infected animal or as the result of an accidental leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

The WHO’s report ruling out an accidental escape of the virus from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) failed to settle the issue satisfactorily. The report was questioned for a number of reasons including that it was cursory, done without access to adequate data or evidence from the Chinese government lab and its conclusions arrived at under pressure from Beijing.

In the event, it is not surprising that US President Joe Biden has asked his country’s intelligence agencies to redouble their efforts to establish the origin of the virus and come up with a report in 90 days.

Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump and his secretary of state Mike Pompeo had kept up an unrelenting tirade against China, including accusations that:&nbsp;the virus was man-made; had escaped from the Wuhan lab in the course of secret experiments; and, experiments involving the virus were for military purposes, or what is known as “gain of function”. There were few takers for these, if only because Trump and his election team projected Candidate Biden as an agent of China.

Some may attribute Biden’s call for a fresh probe to his domestic compulsion to puncture Trump and demolish his constituency founded on conspiracy theories. Yet the probe has been welcomed beyond the US-led West, and India, the outgoing chair of the WHO executive board, strongly favours more studies to trace the origin of the virus.

The reason is that the WHO report does not convincingly answer how the virus came to be amongst us, from where it originated and who was Patient Zero. Besides, no primary evidence by way of data, reports, findings or notes of the scientists involved in research at the Wuhan lab was available to WHO’s team.

This lack of transparency on the part of the Chinese authorities had kept alive the demand for a deeper independent international probe. Of course, nothing is likely to be found in Wuhan nor will China make available any more evidence or records than it has.

Biden’s call for an enquiry is not directed at gaining any new evidence from China. Therefore, this would mean: US intelligence reviewing the data and evidence collected since the pandemic’s outbreak; analysing existing evidence, not all of which may have&nbsp;been examined by their computers and analysts; and, reviewing databases for any clues that may have been overlooked.

At a larger level, the US announcement to bring out a new report lends credence to the theory of the virus having come for WIV, which was dismissed as a conspiracy theory in the past.

It is also an implicit call to friends and allies of the US to bring forth evidence that they can gather through their own intelligence agencies and science institutions.

As if on cue, British intelligence agencies, scientists and medical journals in the UK have come up with reports that hold the lab escape of the virus to be “feasible”.

The possibility of the investigation ordered by Biden tracing the origin of COVID-19 to the Chinese lab is unlikely. Even so, the enquiry is necessary for Biden to put this political hot potato behind him, for moving on to his other priorities.

However, for the US report to be credible, it must reveal the role of American institutions and scientists who had long-standing cooperation and projects with the Wuhan lab.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the world’s most authoritative voice on combating the pandemic, was also associated with the WIV; and, one doctor has admitted to the US National Institute of Health funding ($600,000) the Wuhan lab.

What did US cooperation and joint projects with WIV entail? Which are the institutions and scientists from other countries that, over the years, were associated with WIV? How much of US and western funding did WIV receive and what were these projects? Were these “gain of function” research for military purposes?

Unless the US enquiry initiated by Biden answers these questions, the report may not carry very much more credibility than the WHO’s conclusions about the origin of the virus.

(The author is Editorial Consultant, WION TV.)

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Nineteen months after coronavirus began stalking the globe to claim at least 3.5 million human lives, the world has no clue to the origin of this devastating pathogen.

Nineteen months after coronavirus began stalking the globe to claim at least 3.5 million human lives, the world has no clue to the origin of this devastating pathogen. Speculation abounds over whether the deadly virus, SARS-CoV-2, which along with its mutations causes COVID-19, emerged naturally through human contact with an infected animal or as the result of an accidental leak from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The WHO’s report ruling out an accidental escape of the virus from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) failed to settle the issue satisfactorily. The report was questioned for a number of reasons including that it was cursory, done without access to adequate data or evidence from the Chinese government lab and its conclusions arrived at under pressure from Beijing. In the event, it is not surprising that US President Joe Biden has asked his country’s intelligence agencies to redouble their efforts to establish the origin of the virus and come up with a report in 90 days. Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump and his secretary of state Mike Pompeo had kept up an unrelenting tirade against China, including accusations that: the virus was man-made; had escaped from the Wuhan lab in the course of secret experiments; and, experiments involving the virus were for military purposes, or what is known as “gain of function”. There were few takers for these, if only because Trump and his election team projected Candidate Biden as an agent of China. Some may attribute Biden’s call for a fresh probe to his domestic compulsion to puncture Trump and demolish his constituency founded on conspiracy theories. Yet the probe has been welcomed beyond the US-led West, and India, the outgoing chair of the WHO executive board, strongly favours more studies to trace the origin of the virus. The reason is that the WHO report does not convincingly answer how the virus came to be amongst us, from where it originated and who was Patient Zero. Besides, no primary evidence by way of data, reports, findings or notes of the scientists involved in research at the Wuhan lab was available to WHO’s team. This lack of transparency on the part of the Chinese authorities had kept alive the demand for a deeper independent international probe. Of course, nothing is likely to be found in Wuhan nor will China make available any more evidence or records than it has. Biden’s call for an enquiry is not directed at gaining any new evidence from China. Therefore, this would mean: US intelligence reviewing the data and evidence collected since the pandemic’s outbreak; analysing existing evidence, not all of which may have been examined by their computers and analysts; and, reviewing databases for any clues that may have been overlooked. At a larger level, the US announcement to bring out a new report lends credence to the theory of the virus having come for WIV, which was dismissed as a conspiracy theory in the past. It is also an implicit call to friends and allies of the US to bring forth evidence that they can gather through their own intelligence agencies and science institutions. As if on cue, British intelligence agencies, scientists and medical journals in the UK have come up with reports that hold the lab escape of the virus to be “feasible”. The possibility of the investigation ordered by Biden tracing the origin of COVID-19 to the Chinese lab is unlikely. Even so, the enquiry is necessary for Biden to put this political hot potato behind him, for moving on to his other priorities. However, for the US report to be credible, it must reveal the role of American institutions and scientists who had long-standing cooperation and projects with the Wuhan lab. Dr Anthony Fauci, the world’s most authoritative voice on combating the pandemic, was also associated with the WIV; and, one doctor has admitted to the US National Institute of Health funding ($600,000) the Wuhan lab. What did US cooperation and joint projects with WIV entail? Which are the institutions and scientists from other countries that, over the years, were associated with WIV? How much of US and western funding did WIV receive and what were these projects? Were these “gain of function” research for military purposes? Unless the US enquiry initiated by Biden answers these questions, the report may not carry very much more credibility than the WHO’s conclusions about the origin of the virus. (The author is Editorial Consultant, WION TV.) (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

ON THE MARGIN: Biden revives hunt for COVID-19 origins

A new study claims that the virus was "manipulated" in a lab. While British spies are saying that the possibility of a lab leak is "feasible". WION's Palki tells you how a hunt for the origins of the Wuhan virus has intensified.

Gravitas: Covid-19 Origins: Was the virus "manipulated" in a lab?

After US President Joe Biden ordered an investigation into the origin of the deadly coronavirus, fearing a connection with China, UK scientists, too, have lent support to the ‘lab leak’ theory.

UK scientists support covid 'lab leak' theory: Reports

The coronavirus lab leak theory has been gaining more traction, with circumstantial evidence growing about the Wuhan lab.

Wuhan Virus: Chinese scientists created the virus; study

The Lab Leak Theory is getting bigger & serious. The US is seeking 'Phase 2' of an investigation into Wuhan Virus origins. WHO's top virologist Marion Koopmans says a 'follow-up' probe is needed. Where are things headed? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: US seeks 'Phase 2' of investigation into COVID-origins

The coronavirus lab leak theory has been&nbsp;gaining more traction, with circumstantial evidence growing about the Wuhan lab.&nbsp;

The outskirts of China could have a link to the Wuhan lab.

According to a report, in April 2012, six miners had fallen ill.&nbsp;They had gone inside a mine in China's Yunnan province and when they came out, they had a pneumonia-like illness and three of them died of the illness.

Watch:

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There is no clarity about the affliction since at that point, their illness was described as mysterious and to solve the mystery, scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were called in.

They conducted their research, took samples from bats in the mine in Yunnan and apparently identified several new coronaviruses in those samples.

But China doesn't want to tell the world about which coronaviruses were found in the Yunnan mine?

Not only has China hidden information, but it has also obstructed the independent investigation. Reports say China has blocked efforts to probe the mine and set up checkpoints near the mine.

Unidentified men have stopped several foreign journalists in recent weeks from trying to go there. While the specifics are not clear, the Wuhan lab is said to have more than a thousand samples of coronaviruses.

There is increasing evidence that the Wuhan lab is linked to the outbreak. Which is why more and more experts say that the lab leak hypothesis must be investigated.

The health secretary of the United States has also called for a second investigation into the origins.

"Phase 2 of the Covid origins study must be launched with terms of reference that are transparent, science-based, and give international experts the independence to fully assess the source of the virus and the early days of the outbreak," US health secretary Xavier Becerra said.&nbsp;

"As member states of the WHO, we need to come together and finish this fight against Covid - our greatest test. We need to fully implement and adhere to obligations under international health regulations. We need to improve transparency, immediately share critical information about outbreaks with pandemic potential, and strengthen health systems to withstand shocks," Becerra added.

There are more connections that need to be explored. For instance, the data that China has about the virus. China has refused to share raw data. The gap is so glaring that even Dr Tedros of the WHO has raised it.

Last year, the WHO director-general was applauding China's response but since March, he has been saying that he's not satisfied with what Beijing has shared and demanded more evidence.

While briefing member states of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros said scientists need access to full data to understand what happened in the early days.

Specifically, they need data, including biological samples from at least September 2019. But when Dr Tedros spoke with investigators who went to Wuhan, he was told that they faced difficulties in accessing this data and their report was made without access to the crucial data.

It is the reason why Dr Tedros refused to dismiss the lab theory. He said the assessment by the WHO team wasn't extensive enough.

Therefore, the claims around a lab leak remain limited to circumstantial evidence. And yet, scientists around the world continue to demand another investigation.

They want to further probe the possibility of a lab leak. This month, 18 prominent scientists published a letter calling for a new investigation and they have given reasons why.&nbsp;These scientists believe that the theories both of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover "remain viable".

The letter has been signed by a virologist who had closely worked with Shi Zhengli, who is a top Chinese virologist better known as China's batwoman.

Shi Zhengli was leading the research into bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan lab. Now, one of her colleagues has signed a letter demanding a probe into the lab theory.

A former chief of America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also called for another probe. Scott Gottlieb believes that the circumstantial evidence so far is credible and there is no new evidence in favour of a natural origin.

He said scientists are yet to find an intermediate host and they haven't found the Wuhan virus in an animal anywhere besides bats.

There are more questions than answers right now, but there is enough evidence for the world to not dismiss the lab leak theory.

A new investigation could help in settling the doubts but China is already pushing back on this demand.&nbsp;

The only way to find the answers is to keep asking the question: Is China hiding something about the Wuhan lab?

The coronavirus lab leak theory has been gaining more traction, with circumstantial evidence growing about the Wuhan lab. The outskirts of China could have a link to the Wuhan lab.

The coronavirus lab leak theory has been gaining more traction, with circumstantial evidence growing about the Wuhan lab. The outskirts of China could have a link to the Wuhan lab. According to a report, in April 2012, six miners had fallen ill. They had gone inside a mine in China's Yunnan province and when they came out, they had a pneumonia-like illness and three of them died of the illness. Watch: There is no clarity about the affliction since at that point, their illness was described as mysterious and to solve the mystery, scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were called in. They conducted their research, took samples from bats in the mine in Yunnan and apparently identified several new coronaviruses in those samples. But China doesn't want to tell the world about which coronaviruses were found in the Yunnan mine? Not only has China hidden information, but it has also obstructed the independent investigation. Reports say China has blocked efforts to probe the mine and set up checkpoints near the mine. Unidentified men have stopped several foreign journalists in recent weeks from trying to go there. While the specifics are not clear, the Wuhan lab is said to have more than a thousand samples of coronaviruses. There is increasing evidence that the Wuhan lab is linked to the outbreak. Which is why more and more experts say that the lab leak hypothesis must be investigated. The health secretary of the United States has also called for a second investigation into the origins. "Phase 2 of the Covid origins study must be launched with terms of reference that are transparent, science-based, and give international experts the independence to fully assess the source of the virus and the early days of the outbreak," US health secretary Xavier Becerra said. "As member states of the WHO, we need to come together and finish this fight against Covid - our greatest test. We need to fully implement and adhere to obligations under international health regulations. We need to improve transparency, immediately share critical information about outbreaks with pandemic potential, and strengthen health systems to withstand shocks," Becerra added. There are more connections that need to be explored. For instance, the data that China has about the virus. China has refused to share raw data. The gap is so glaring that even Dr Tedros of the WHO has raised it. Last year, the WHO director-general was applauding China's response but since March, he has been saying that he's not satisfied with what Beijing has shared and demanded more evidence. While briefing member states of the World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros said scientists need access to full data to understand what happened in the early days. Specifically, they need data, including biological samples from at least September 2019. But when Dr Tedros spoke with investigators who went to Wuhan, he was told that they faced difficulties in accessing this data and their report was made without access to the crucial data. It is the reason why Dr Tedros refused to dismiss the lab theory. He said the assessment by the WHO team wasn't extensive enough. Therefore, the claims around a lab leak remain limited to circumstantial evidence. And yet, scientists around the world continue to demand another investigation. They want to further probe the possibility of a lab leak. This month, 18 prominent scientists published a letter calling for a new investigation and they have given reasons why. These scientists believe that the theories both of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover "remain viable". The letter has been signed by a virologist who had closely worked with Shi Zhengli, who is a top Chinese virologist better known as China's batwoman. Shi Zhengli was leading the research into bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan lab. Now, one of her colleagues has signed a letter demanding a probe into the lab theory. A former chief of America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also called for another probe. Scott Gottlieb believes that the circumstantial evidence so far is credible and there is no new evidence in favour of a natural origin. He said scientists are yet to find an intermediate host and they haven't found the Wuhan virus in an animal anywhere besides bats. There are more questions than answers right now, but there is enough evidence for the world to not dismiss the lab leak theory. A new investigation could help in settling the doubts but China is already pushing back on this demand. The only way to find the answers is to keep asking the question: Is China hiding something about the Wuhan lab?

Wuhan virus lab leak theory: Why China has blocked access to Yunnan mine

Will there be a 'TRANSPARENT' new probe into virus lab leak theory? Can the global powers ever join hands to crush the COVID-19 surge? Palki Sharma discusses with the following guests: - Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Finland's Ambassador to India - Federico Salas, Mexico's Ambassador to India - Barry O’Farrell; Australia's High Commissioner to India - Hugo Javier Gobbi; Argentina's Ambassador to India

Ambassadors' Roundtable: Fighting The Pandemic | Can global powers join hands to crush COVID surge?

India has got a new drug to treat Wuhan virus patients. It can help mild to moderate patients recover quickly. Palki Sharma tells you all about it.

Gravitas: India gets a new drug to treat Wuhan virus

In 2012, 6 miners in China had fallen ill after a visit to a mine. Scientists from the Wuhan lab were called in to investigate the "mysterious illness". Is there a connection between this mine and the pandemic? Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Does COVID-19 have a connection with an abandoned mine in China?

Bats, Minks or Lab Leak? What caused this pandemic? 18 months on, no one knows how the Wuhan Virus originated. The WHO promised to find an answer, but all Dr. Tedros has offered are hypotheses. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Will WHO ever reveal COVID-19 origins?

What happened inside the Wuhan Lab in November 2019? A report claims that 3 researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology had to be taken to a hospital. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas | COVID Origins: What happened inside the Wuhan Lab in November 2019?

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