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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to take a closer look at the laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have originated – while demanding that Beijing provide an account.
“The United States has repeatedly called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the origin of COVID-19. Understanding the origin of this pandemic is essential for global public health, economic recovery and international security,” said Pompeo said in a statement.
WHO SCIENTISTS ARRIVE IN WUHAN TO INVESTIGATE THE ORIGINS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
His statement comes as 13 scientists from the WHO arrived in Wuhan this week to investigate the origins of the pandemic, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and torpedoed economies around the world.
The United States has long expressed doubts about the WHO, and President Trump ended US relations with the UN body last year amid questions over his bias towards China and its acceptance the first stories about the virus. The United States had been the agency’s largest contributor to the tune of about $ 450 million per year.
The United States criticized WHO officials for praising China’s “transparency,” its “ignoring warnings about the Taiwan virus, and repeating Chinese claims that COVID-19 could not spread. ‘one person to another. Trump also highlighted opposition from WHO officials to his decision to ban travel to China in the early days of the crisis.
The State Department shared what it said was new information about the Wuhan lab on Friday, specifically that researchers fell ill in the fall of 2019 with symptoms consistent with both COVID and seasonal diseases. Pompeo said this raised questions about officials’ claims that there was “no infection” among staff and students.
STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS WUHAN LAB RESEARCHERS MAY HAVE COVIDANCE IN FALL 2019
In addition, he urges the WHO to investigate the Wuhan laboratory’s research into the virus, accusing it of not being transparent about “gain-of-function” experiments to improve lethality or transmission – as well as the alleged links of the laboratory to military research.
Pompeo then again targeted China for its lack of accountability and refusal to accept aid.
“China has instead refused offers of help – including from the United States – and punished the brave Chinese doctors, scientists and journalists who try to alert the world to the dangers of the virus,” he said. “Beijing today continues to withhold vital information scientists need to protect the world from this deadly virus and the next.”
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“The United States reiterates the importance of unhindered access to virus samples, laboratory records and personnel, eyewitnesses and whistleblowers to ensure the credibility of the WHO final report,” he added. “Until the CCP allows for a full and in-depth account of what happened in Wuhan, it is only a matter of time until China gives birth to another pandemic and the ‘inflict on the Chinese people and the world. “
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