Scientists acknowledged the fallout that would occur if “anyone serious” called out the possibility that COVID-19 originated due to a Chinese leak rather than naturally, according to private messages included in a report released on Tuesday.
Scientists discussed the potential consequences of accusing China of leaking COVID-19 and agreed to attribute the virus to a natural source in a private Slack channel in February 2020, according to a report by the House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Evolutionary biologist Dr. Andrew Rambaut wrote that it would be a disaster to blame China for an escaped virus and stated that he would be comfortable saying it was a natural occurrence, and immunologist Dr. Kristian Andersen said that he concurred.