China has touted its cooperation with the WHO and warned that attempts to politicise the matter would cost lives. The US and other countries say the WHO report is lacking crucial information, access and transparency, and further study was warranted. Mr Kato called for additional investigation and analysis and said Japan will encourage the WHO to consider additional investigation inside China. The report said the virus most likely came from bats and spread to an unidentified mammal before being transmitted to people. It called a laboratory leak an unlikely route of transmission that did not warrant further study.

Source: Irish Independent March 31, 2021 07:23 UTC