U.S. intelligence agencies said Thursday they believe the new coronavirus was "not manmade or genetically modified," but they are still examining whether the origins of the pandemic trace to contact with infected animals or an accident at a Chinese lab. The new ODNI statement says, "The Intelligence Community also concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified." While Trump and Pompeo have made public statements speculating about the lab, a U.S. intelligence official disputed the notion that there was any pressure on agencies to bolster a particular theory. The intelligence official was not authorized to publicly discuss the issue and spoke only on condition of anonymity. But a Chinese government spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, demonstrated that China was not above sowing confusion in the face of the pandemic.

Source: CBC News April 30, 2020 16:48 UTC