The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing strongly denies. "We have deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were communicated and questions about the process used to reach them." "It is imperative that this report be independent, with expert findings free from intervention or alteration by the Chinese government," Sullivan said. "To better understand this pandemic and prepare for the next one, China must make available its data from the earliest days of the outbreak," he said. Going forward, all countries, including China, should participate in a transparent and robust process for preventing and responding to health emergencies, Sullivan said.

Source: bd News24 February 14, 2021 00:33 UTC