Scientist who first decoded the Covid sequence thrown out of his lab by China

The Chinese scientist who first published a sequence of the COVID-19 virus in January 2020 without state approvalwas reportedly forcedout of his facility over the weekend. Zhang YongzhenonMonday (Apr 29)wrote on Chinese social media thathe and his teamwere askedto evict from the lab, the latest sign of increased scrutiny against scientists working on coronavirus in the communist country.

According to a report by news agency AP, when Zhang tried to enter his lab over the weekend, he was barred by guards who said the lab has been closed for “safety reasons.”

The scientist staged a protest outside the lab, with online photos showing him sitting in drizzling rain.

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“I won’t leave, I won’t quit, I am pursuing science and the truth!,” he wrote in a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

The news of his protest quickly spread on social media, prompting the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center to issue a statement.

The centre claimed Zhang’s lab wasbeing renovatedandhis team was providedwith an alternative facilitymeanwhile.

However, Zhang rubbished the claim and saidno alternative facility had been offered.

HowZhangran afoul of the Chinese govt?

Zhang became a trouble for China’s Xi Jinping administration when, back in 2020, he and his team decoded the COVID-19 virus and warned the Chinese authorities of its potential to spread quickly among the masses.

Theverynext day, his lab faced action by the governmentandZhang came under heavy government pressure.

In the meantime, foreign scientists started citing Zhang’s work whileissuing calls to the Chinese governmentto take preventive measures.

On January 11, 2020, Zhang made the virus sequencepublic,without waiting for the government’s nod.

Sequencing a virus iskeytothe development oftest kits, disease control measures and vaccinations, reported AP.

Series of actions against Zhang

Zhang’s actions have brought him enough trouble over the past years.

Not onlyZhangwasexpelledfrom a post at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Preventionbut was also stoppedfrom collaborating with some of his former partners, which severely affected his research.

(With inputs from agencies)