China under pressure after WHO chief revives lab leak theory

The World Health Organization’s chief said a mission to study the origins of the coronavirus in China was too quick to dismiss the theory of a lab leak, with the US and other governments joining in criticism of the investigation.

Meanwhile, a group of 14 countries including the United States and Japan has raised concerns over a report on the origins of Covid-19 by the WHO and China, arguing that the WHO team was "significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the probe didn’t adequately analyze the possibility of a lab accident before deciding it’s most likely the pathogen spread from bats to humans via another animal. In a briefing to member countries Tuesday, he said he is ready to deploy additional missions involving specialist experts.