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| Boilerpipe Text | This article is about the hypothesis proposing SARS-CoV-2 came from a laboratory. For bioweapon conspiracy theories, see
COVID-19 misinformation § Bio-weapon
.
The
Wuhan Institute of Virology
in
Wuhan
, China
The
COVID-19 lab leak theory
is the hypothesis that
SARS-CoV-2
, the virus responsible for the
COVID-19 pandemic
, originated from a laboratory. This claim is highly controversial. There is
scientific consensus
that the virus is not the result of
genetic engineering
. Most scientists believe it
spread to human populations
through natural
zoonotic
transmission from
bats
, similar to the
SARS-CoV-1
and
MERS-CoV
outbreaks and consistent with other
pandemics throughout human history
.
[
1
]
[
2
]
Available evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 was originally harbored by bats and transmitted to humans through infected wild animals serving as
intermediate hosts
at the
Huanan Seafood Market
in
Wuhan
, Hubei, China, in December 2019.
[
3
]
[
7
]
Several candidate animal species have been identified as potential intermediaries.
[
14
]
There is no evidence supporting laboratory involvement, no indication that the virus existed in any lab prior to the pandemic, and no record of suspicious
biosecurity incidents
.
[
15
]
[
16
]
[
17
]
[
18
]
Many scenarios proposed for a lab leak are characteristic of
conspiracy theories
.
[
19
]
Central to many is a misplaced suspicion based on the proximity of the outbreak to the
Wuhan Institute of Virology
(WIV), where
coronaviruses
are studied. Most large Chinese cities have laboratories that study coronaviruses,
[
20
]
and virus outbreaks typically begin in rural areas, but are first noticed in large cities.
[
21
]
If a coronavirus outbreak occurs in China, there is a high likelihood it will occur near a large city, and therefore near a laboratory studying coronaviruses.
[
21
]
[
22
]
The idea of a leak at the WIV also gained support due to secrecy during the
Chinese government's response
.
[
15
]
[
23
]
The lab leak theory and its weaponization by politicians have both leveraged and increased
anti-Chinese sentiment
. Scientists from WIV had previously collected virus samples from bats in the wild, and allegations that they also performed undisclosed work on such viruses are central to some versions of the idea.
[
24
]
Some versions, particularly those alleging
genome engineering
, are based on
misinformation
or misrepresentations of scientific evidence.
[
25
]
[
26
]
[
27
]
The idea that the virus was released from a laboratory (accidentally or deliberately) appeared early in the pandemic.
[
28
]
[
29
]
It gained popularity in the United States through promotion by
conservative
personalities in early 2020,
[
30
]
fomenting tensions between the U.S. and China.
[
31
]
Scientists and media outlets widely dismissed it as a conspiracy theory.
[
32
]
[
33
]
The accidental leak idea had a resurgence in 2021.
[
34
]
In March, the
World Health Organization
(WHO) published a report which deemed the possibility "extremely unlikely", though the WHO's director-general said the report's conclusions were not definitive.
[
35
]
Subsequent plans for laboratory audits were rejected by China.
[
23
]
[
36
]
Most scientists are skeptical of the possibility of a laboratory origin, citing a lack of any supporting evidence for a lab leak and the abundant evidence supporting zoonosis.
[
16
]
[
37
]
Though some scientists agree a lab leak should be examined as part of ongoing
investigations
,
[
38
]
[
39
]
politicization
remains a concern.
[
40
]
[
41
]
In July 2022, two papers published in
Science
described novel epidemiological and genetic evidence that suggested the pandemic likely began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and did not come from a laboratory.
[
17
]
[
42
]
[
7
]
Background
The principal hypothesis for the
origin of COVID-19
is that it became infectious to humans through a natural
spillover event
(zoonosis), which is supported by available evidence.
[
43
]
[
19
]
The origin of COVID-19 is not definitively known, and the theory it became infectious to humans through escape from a laboratory where it was being studied has not been definitively ruled out, however most scientists believe zoonosis is more likely,
[
44
]
[
45
]
[
46
]
with a minority favoring the lab leak theory.
[
47
]
[
48
]
[
49
]
Arguments used in support of a laboratory leak have been described as characteristic of
conspiratorial thinking
.
[
19
]
A 2024 survey of 168 experts, most of whom were
epidemiologists
and
virologists
, found on average they viewed zoonosis as 77% likely and a lab leak as 21% likely.
[
50
]
Zoonosis
Most new infectious diseases begin with a spillover event from animals.
[
40
]
These spill overs occur spontaneously, either by contact with wildlife animals, which are the majority of cases, or with farmed animals.
[
51
]
[
52
]
For example, the emergence of
Nipah virus
in Perak, Malaysia, and the
2002 outbreak
of
SARS-CoV-1
in Guangdong province, China, were natural zoonosis traced back to wildlife origin.
[
51
]
COVID-19 is considered by scientists to be "of probable animal origin".
[
52
]
It has been classified as a
zoonotic disease
(naturally transmissible from animals to humans). Some scientists dispute this classification, since a
natural reservoir
has not been confirmed.
[
53
]
[
52
]
The original source of viral transmission to humans remains unclear, as does whether the virus became
pathogenic
(capable of causing disease) before or after a spillover event.
[
54
]
[
55
]
[
56
]
Bats, a large reservoir of
betacoronaviruses
, are considered the most likely natural reservoir of SARS‑CoV‑2.
[
57
]
[
58
]
Differences between bat coronaviruses and SARS‑CoV‑2 suggest that humans may have been infected via an
intermediate host
.
[
59
]
[
14
]
Research into the natural reservoir of the virus that caused the 2002 SARS outbreak has resulted in the discovery of many
SARS-like coronaviruses
circulating in bats, most found in
horseshoe bats
. Analysis indicates that a virus collected from
Rhinolophus affinis
in a cave near the town of Tongguan in
Yunnan province
, designated
RaTG13
, has a 96% resemblance to SARS‑CoV‑2.
[
60
]
[
61
]
[
62
]
The RaTG13 virus genome was the closest known sequence to SARS-CoV-2 until the discovery of BANAL-52 in horseshoe bats in Laos,
[
63
]
[
57
]
[
64
]
but it is
not its direct ancestor
.
[
26
]
Other closely related sequences were also identified in samples from local bat populations in Yunnan province.
[
65
]
One such virus,
RpYN06
, shares 97% identity with SARS-CoV-2 in one large part of its genome, but 94% identity overall. Such "chunks" of
very highly identical nucleic acids
are often implicated as evidence of a
common ancestor
.
[
66
]
[
67
]
An ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 likely acquired "generalist" binding to several different species through adaptive evolution in bats and an intermediate host species.
[
14
]
[
68
]
[
69
]
[
70
]
Estimates based on genomic sequences and contact tracing have placed the origin point of SARS-CoV-2 in humans as between mid-October and mid-November 2019.
[
71
]
[
72
]
Some scientists (such as Fauci above and
CIRAD
's Roger Frutos) have suggested slow, undetected circulation in a smaller number of humans before a threshold event (such as replication in a larger number of hosts in a larger city like Wuhan) could explain an undetected adaption period.
[
32
]
The first known human infections from SARS‑CoV‑2 were discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
[
60
]
Because many of the early infectees were workers at the
Huanan Seafood Market
,
[
73
]
[
74
]
it was originally suggested that the virus might have originated from wild animals sold in the market, including civet cats, raccoon dogs, bats, or pangolins.
[
56
]
[
59
]
Subsequent environmental analyses demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the market, with highest prevalence in areas of the market where animals known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection were held.
[
6
]
[
3
]
Early human cases clustered around the market, and included infections from two separate SARS-CoV-2 lineages.
[
75
]
[
76
]
[
77
]
[
3
]
These two lineages demonstrated that the virus was actively infecting a population of animals in the market, and that sustained contact between those animals and humans had allowed for multiple viral transmissions into humans.
[
75
]
[
76
]
[
77
]
[
3
]
All early cases of
COVID-19
were later shown to be localized to the market and its immediate vicinity.
[
3
]
While other wild animals susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection are known to have been sold at Huanan, no bats or pangolins were sold at the market.
[
78
]
[
3
]
Wuhan Institute of Virology
The
Wuhan Institute of Virology
and the
Wuhan Center for Disease Control
are located within miles of the original focal point of the pandemic, Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, and this very proximity has made it easy for conspiracy theories to take root suggesting the laboratory must be the virus' origin.
[
19
]
However virology labs are often built near potential outbreak areas.
[
22
]
Proponents of the lab leak theory typically omit to mention that most large Chinese cities have coronavirus research laboratories.
[
20
]
Virus outbreaks tend to begin in rural areas, but are first noticed in large cities.
[
21
]
Stephan Lewandowsky
and colleagues write that the location of the Institute near the outbreak site is "literally a coincidence" and using that coincidence as
a priori
evidence for a lab leak typifies a kind of
conjunction fallacy
. Furthermore, they observe that is ironic lab leak proponents are keen to argue for the significance of proximity of laboratories to the outbreak, while ignoring the proximity of wet markets, which have long-been identified as potential origins for viral spillover events.
[
19
]
Phylogenetic tree
of SARS-CoV-2 and closely related betacoronaviruses (left) and their geographic context (right)
The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had been conducting research on SARS-like bat coronaviruses since 2005,
[
79
]
and was involved in 2015 experiments that some experts (such as
Richard Ebright
) have characterized as
gain-of-function
.
[
24
]
[
80
]
Others (including
Ralph Baric
) have disputed the characterization, pointing out that the experiments in question (involving
chimeric viruses
) were not conducted at the WIV, but at
UNC Chapel Hill
, whose
institutional biosafety committee
assessed the experiments as not "gain-of-function".
[
81
]
Baric did acknowledge the risks involved in such studies, writing, "Scientific review panels may deem similar studies building chimeric viruses based on circulating strains too risky to pursue ... The potential to prepare for and mitigate future outbreaks must be weighed against the risk of creating more dangerous pathogens."
[
24
]
[
82
]
The fact that the lab is in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic's early outbreak took place,
[
83
]
and the fact that the research at WIV was being conducted under the less stringent
biosafety levels
(BSL) 2 and 3,
[
24
]
[
84
]
has led to speculation that SARS-CoV-2 could have escaped from the Wuhan lab.
[
85
]
Richard Ebright said one reason that lower-containment
BSL-2
laboratories are sometimes used is the cost and inconvenience of high-containment facilities.
[
24
]
[
86
]
Australian virologist Danielle Anderson, who was the last foreign scientist to visit the WIV before the pandemic, said the lab "worked in the same way as any other high-containment lab". She also said it had "strict safety protocols".
[
87
]
The Huanan Seafood Market may have only served as a jumping off point for a virus that was already circulating in Wuhan, facilitating rapid expansion of the outbreak.
[
54
]
[
88
]
Prior lab leak incidents and conspiracy theories
Laboratory leak incidents
have occurred in the past.
[
89
]
[
90
]
A Soviet
research facility in 1979 leaked anthrax
and at least 68 people died.
[
91
]
The
2007 foot-and-mouth outbreak
in the UK was caused by a leaky pipe at a high-security laboratory.
[
91
]
The SARS virus escaped at least once, and probably twice, from a high-level biocontainment laboratory in China.
[
92
]
[
16
]
[
93
]
Benign exposures to pathogens (which do not result in an infection) are probably under-reported, given the negative consequences of such events on the reputation of a host institution and low risk for widespread epidemics.
[
94
]
Epidemiologist
Marc Lipsitch
and bacteriologist
Richard Ebright
have said that the risk of laboratory-acquired infection (especially with
modified pathogens
) is greater than widely believed.
[
95
]
[
96
]
No epidemic has ever been caused by the leak of a novel virus.
[
15
]
The only incident of a lab-acquired infection leading to an epidemic is the
1977 Russian flu
which was probably caused by a leaked strain of
H1N1
that had circulated naturally until the 1950s.
[
15
]
Previous novel disease outbreaks, such as
AIDS
,
H1N1/09
,
SARS
, and
Ebola
have been the subject of conspiracy theories and allegations that the causative agent was created in or escaped from a laboratory.
[
97
]
[
98
]
[
16
]
Each of these is now understood to have a natural origin.
[
27
]
Psychological and social factors
Public interest in the lab leak theory has in part been attributed to secrecy during the
Chinese government's response
to the outbreak,
[
15
]
[
23
]
which was characterized by a reluctance to share data and cooperate with international investigations.
[
46
]
[
44
]
Survey work on the public in the United States has found that
identity politics
and
racial resentment
are factors informing overconfident belief in the lab leak theory and COVID-19 misinformation in general. The researchers propose that this shows how such beliefs are resistant to refutation because they are not subject only to evidence, but to ingrained attitudes and notions of self.
[
99
]
On social media the idea that COVID was a Chinese biological weapon has become widespread, and accords with rhetoric about how a
yellow peril
threatens white people.
[
100
]
Science historian Fred Cooper and colleagues write that in the United Kingdom, attitudes to the Chinese have long been tainted by xenophobic stereotypes. Cooper draws a parallel between the Wuhan lab leak narrative, and the machinations of fictional supervillain
Fu Manchu
, who is "expert in the deadly application of animal and biological agents" and who has been depicted on television shows as threatening the West with lethal diseases.
[
101
]
Proposed scenarios
The lab leak theory is not a single discrete proposed scenario, but a collection of various proposed scenarios on a spectrum with, at one end, a careless accident from legitimate research; at the other, the engineering and release of a Chinese
biological weapon
.
[
19
]
While the proposed scenarios are theoretically subject to evidence-based investigation, it is not clear that any can be sufficiently
falsified
to placate lab leak supporters, as they are based on pseudoscientific and conspiratorial thinking.
[
19
]
There is no evidence that any laboratory had samples of SARS-CoV-2, or a plausible ancestor virus, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
[
15
]
Various sources have hypothesised that SARS-CoV-2 could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology or another laboratory in Wuhan, such as the
Wuhan Center for Disease Control
. The theories vary on whether this was an intentional act or an accident. Theories also vary on whether the virus was modified by human activity prior to being released. By January 2020 some lab leak proponents were promoting a narrative with conspiracist components; such narratives were often supported using "racist tropes that suggest that epidemiological, genetic, or other scientific data had been purposefully withheld or altered to obscure the origin of the virus".
[
20
]
David Gorski
refers to "the blatant anti-Chinese racism and xenophobia behind lab leak, whose proponents often ascribe a nefarious coverup to the Chinese government".
[
102
]
Gorski later stated the lab leak hypothesis hasn't "stood up to scientific scrutiny".
[
103
]
The use of xenophobic rhetoric also caused a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment.
[
104
]
Origins
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, speculation about a laboratory leak was confined to conspiracy-minded portions of the internet, including
4Chan
and
Infowars
, but the ideas began to get wider traction after accusations about a "Chinese bioweapon" were originally published by
Great Game India
and then republished by the
Red State Watch
and
Zero Hedge
web sites.
[
105
]
From there, the idea gained media traction and was championed by American conservative political figures.
[
105
]
The idea split into variants, including one that proposed Asian people were immune to COVID, or that the Chinese had a secret vaccine standing by for use. Some proposed that the Chinese government and World Health Organization were operating together in a conspiracy.
[
105
]
The American president of the time, Donald Trump, used anti-Chinese rhetoric (such as "Kung flu") to feed the idea, and said in an April 2020 news conference that he had documents supporting the idea that SARS-CoV-2 had come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
[
105
]
In reaction to this politicized environment, most mainstream science and media sources assumed that the lab leak idea was no more than racially fuelled propaganda, and by the summer of 2020 the idea was largely dismissed, until the next American president, Joe Biden, ordered an investigation into COVID's origins in 2021.
[
105
]
Accidental release of a natural virus
Some have hypothesised the virus arose in humans from an
accidental infection of laboratory workers
by contact with a sample extracted from a wild animal or by direct contact with a captive animal or its respiratory droplets or feces.
[
32
]
Former CDC director
Robert R. Redfield
said in March 2021 that in his opinion the most likely cause of the virus was a laboratory escape, which "doesn't imply any intentionality", and that as a virologist, he did not believe it made "biological sense" for the virus to be so "efficient in human to human transmission" from the early outbreak. The fact that scientists have not been successful in finding an intermediate host that picked up the virus from bats and passed it to humans is seen by some as evidence that supports a lab leak, according to
The Guardian
.
[
106
]
[
107
]
University of Utah
virologist Stephen Goldstein has criticized the scientific basis of Redfield's comments, saying that since SARS-CoV-2's spike protein is very effective at jumping between hosts, one shouldn't be surprised that it transmits efficiently among humans. Goldstein said "If a
human virus [such as SARS-CoV2] can transmit among mink
, there's no basis to assume a bat virus [also SARS-CoV2] can't transmit among humans. Us humans may think we're very special – but to a virus we are just another mammalian host."
[
108
]
In June 2024,
Deborah Birx
, Donald Trump's Coronavirus Response Coordinator, in response to
CNN
's
Kassie Hunt
asking if there were efforts to discredit the lab leak theory, said "I do think it happened. If you look at what people said about Bob Redfield and how they disparaged him as a scientist because he wanted to bring forward the lab leak potential." She added: "And I think the reason [Redfield] felt he needed to bring it forward to push, was to push against this, ‘it had to be this way.’ Because we didn't know, and we knew we would never know."
[
109
]
[
110
]
WHO assessment
The
WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2
, written by a joint team of Chinese and international scientists and published in March 2021,
[
38
]
[
111
]
assessed introduction through a laboratory incident to be "extremely unlikely" and not supported by any available evidence,
[
57
]
[
112
]
although the report stated that this possibility could not be wholly ruled out without further evidence.
[
32
]
The report stated that human spillover via an intermediate animal host was the most likely explanation, with direct spillover from bats next most likely. Introduction through the food supply chain and the
Huanan Seafood Market
was considered less likely.
[
57
]
A small group of researchers said that they would not trust the report's conclusions because it was overseen by the Chinese government, and some observers felt the WHO's statement was premature.
[
23
]
Other scientists found the report convincing, and said there was no evidence of a laboratory origin for the virus.
[
111
]
[
15
]
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom stated that the team had experienced difficulty accessing raw data on early COVID-19 cases and that the least likely hypothesis, a lab leak, required additional investigation because "further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions".
[
35
]
[
38
]
[
113
]
The leader of the WHO investigatory team,
Peter Ben Embarek
, said "An employee of the lab gets infected while working in a bat cave collecting samples. Such a scenario, while being a lab leak, would also fit our first hypothesis of direct transmission of the virus from bat to human."
[
114
]
The United States, European Union, and 13 other countries criticized the WHO-convened study, calling for transparency from the Chinese government and access to the raw data and original samples.
[
115
]
Chinese officials described these criticisms as "an attempt to politicise the study".
[
116
]
Scientists involved in the WHO report, including Liang Wannian, John Watson, and Peter Daszak, objected to the criticism, and said that the report was an example of the collaboration and dialogue required to successfully continue investigations into the matter.
[
116
]
Embarek later claimed in August 2021 that the WHO was put under pressure by Chinese scientists to dismiss the lab leak theory in its report.
[
117
]
On July 15, 2021,
WHO Director-General
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
said that the COVID-19 lab leak theory had been prematurely discarded by the WHO, following his earlier statements that a potential leak requires "further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts".
[
118
]
He proposed a second phase of WHO investigation, which he said should take a closer look at the lab leak idea, and asked the Chinese government to be "transparent" and release relevant data.
[
119
]
Later on July 17, Tedros called for "audits of relevant laboratories and research institutions" in the area of the initial COVID-19 cases.
[
120
]
China's government refused saying it showed "disrespect" and "arrogance towards science".
[
121
]
[
119
]
[
122
]
The United States criticised China's position on the follow-up origin probe as "irresponsible" and "dangerous".
[
123
]
In June 2022, the WHO's
Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens
(SAGO) published a preliminary report urged a deeper investigation into the possibility of a laboratory leak.
[
124
]
The SAGO chair said in a press conference that "the strongest evidence is still around a zoonotic transmission".
[
125
]
The AP described the report as a "sharp reversal" of the WHO's previous assessment,
[
124
]
and
Science.org
described reactions from academics as mixed.
[
125
]
In early 2023, the WHO abandoned its original investigation into the origin of SARS-CoV-2, delegating work to its standing committee, SAGO, with plans to establish a COVID-19 timeline, search for similar viruses, and conduct further laboratory studies on animals and human samples.
[
126
]
In 2025, SAGO suggested that a zoonotic origin has the "weight of available evidence" and emphasized that the origin remains unresolved without additional primary data, including early patient records and sequences, detailed wildlife supply-chain documentation, and laboratory biosafety and health records from
Wuhan institutions
.
[
127
]
Mojiang copper mine
Members of DRASTIC, a collection of internet activists advocating for the lab leak theory,
[
128
]
[
129
]
have raised concerns over a respiratory outbreak that happened in the spring of 2012 near an abandoned copper mine in China, which Shi Zhengli's group investigated. Shi's group collected a sample of viral RNA and named it RaBtCoV/4991.
[
26
]
Later, Shi's group published a paper about a virus named RaTG13 in
Nature
in February 2020.
[
60
]
Via sequence comparisons, it became clear that RaBtCoV/4991 and RaTG13 were likely the same virus. Shi has said that the renaming was done to reflect the origin location and year of the virus.
[
64
]
Some proponents, including
Nicholas Wade
and pseudonymous DRASTIC member "TheSeeker268", argued that the renaming was an attempt to obscure the origins of the virus and hide how it could be related to a laboratory origin of the related SARS-CoV-2 virus.
[
130
]
Scientists have said that RaTG-13 is too distantly related to be connected to the pandemic's origins, and could not be altered in a laboratory to create SARS-CoV-2.
[
131
]
Nature
later published an addendum to the 2020 RaTG13 paper addressing any possible link to the mine, in which Shi says that the virus was collected there, but that it was very likely not the cause of the miners' illnesses. According to the addendum, laboratory tests conducted on the workers' serum were negative, and "no antibodies to a SARS-like coronavirus had been found."
[
64
]
Accidental release of a genetically modified virus
There is a scientific consensus that
SARS-CoV-2
is not the result of
genetic engineering
.
[
1
]
Nevertheless, one conspiracy theory spread in support a laboratory origin suggests SARS-CoV-2 was developed for
gain-of-function research
on coronaviruses.
[
132
]
The exact meaning of "gain of function" is disputed among experts.
[
81
]
[
133
]
[
134
]
According to emailed statements by
Shi Zhengli
, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, her lab has not conducted any unpublished gain-of-function experiments on coronaviruses, and all WIV staff and students tested negative for the virus in the early days of the pandemic.
[
135
]
Furin cleavage site
Phylogenetic tree
depicting the presence (red) or absence (black) of a furin cleavage site in various
betacoronaviruses
. From Wu et al.
[
136
]
One strand of argumentation in favor of a lab leak rests on the premise that there is something "unnatural" about the genetic makeup of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, showing it must have been created by genetic engineering.
[
19
]
[
137
]
Some claims of bioengineering focus on the presence of two sequential
cytosine
-
guanine
-guanine (CGG)
codons
in the virus'
RNA
, more precisely in the crucial
furin
cleavage site.
[
26
]
[
16
]
The CGG codon is one of several codons that
translates
into an
arginine
amino acid
, and it is the least common arginine codon in human pathogenic betacoronaviruses.
[
138
]
Partially, this lack of CGG codons in human pathogenic coronaviruses is due to
natural selection
;
B-cells
in the human body recognize areas on virus genomes where C and G are next to each other (so-called
CpG islands
).
[
32
]
[
139
]
The CGG codon makes up 5% of the arginine codons in the
SARS-CoV-1
genome, and it makes up 3% of the arginine codons in the
SARS-CoV-2
genome.
[
26
]
Proponents of an engineered virus, including journalist
Nicholas Wade
, say that two such uncommon codons in a row are evidence for a laboratory experiment; because of the low chance of a CGG codon pair occurring in nature, and in contrast, the common usage of CGG codons for arginine in genetic engineering work.
[
26
]
[
16
]
This has been debunked by scientists,
[
140
]
[
141
]
who note that the CGG codon is also present (and even more frequent) in other coronaviruses, including
MERS-CoV
,
[
142
]
and that a codon being rare does not mean it cannot be present naturally.
[
141
]
[
143
]
If the CGG codon had been engineered into the virus, it should have mutated out of the virus as it circulated in humans in the wild over several years, but the opposite has occurred.
[
143
]
In fact, the presence of the furin cleavage site, which is responsible for a significant increase in transmissibility, largely outweighs any disadvantageous immune responses from B-cells triggered by the genetic sequences which code for it.
[
139
]
[
32
]
Another source of speculation is the mere presence of the furin cleavage site.
[
27
]
[
136
]
It is absent in the closest known relatives of SARS-CoV-2 (but present in other
betacoronaviruses
, e.g., BtHpCoV-ZJ13).
[
144
]
This anomaly is most probably the result of
recombination
,
[
136
]
[
145
]
and is further unsurprising since the genetic lineage of these viruses has not been adequately explored, sampled, or sequenced.
[
146
]
[
147
]
A common occurrence among other coronaviruses (including MERS-CoV,
HCoV-OC43
,
HCoV-HKU1
, and appearing in near-identical fashion in
HKU9-1
), the site is preceded by short
palindromic sequences
suggestive of natural recombination caused by simple
evolutionary
mechanisms. Additionally, the suboptimal configuration and poor targeting of the cleavage site for humans or mice when compared with known examples (such as HCoV-OC43 or HCoV-HKU1), along with the complex and onerous molecular biology work this would have required, is inconsistent with what would be expected from an engineered virus.
[
148
]
Project DEFUSE was a rejected
DARPA
grant application, that proposed to sample bat coronaviruses from various locations in China.
[
149
]
The rejected proposal document was posted online by DRASTIC in September 2021.
[
150
]
Co-investigators on the rejected proposal included the
EcoHealth Alliance
's
Peter Daszak
,
Ralph Baric
from
UNC
, Linfa Wang from
Duke–NUS Medical School
in Singapore, and Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
[
128
]
The grantees proposed to evaluate the ability of bat viruses to infect human cells in the laboratory using
chimeric
coronaviruses which were mutated in different locations, and to create protein-based vaccines out of the spike (S) protein (not the whole virus) which would be distributed to bats in the wild to reduce the chances of future human outbreaks.
[
151
]
One proposed alteration was to modify bat coronaviruses to insert a cleavage site for the Furin protease at the S1/S2 junction of the
spike
(S) viral protein. There is no evidence that any genetic manipulation or
reverse genetics
(a technique required to make chimeric viruses) of SARS-related bat coronaviruses was ever carried out at the WIV.
[
128
]
[
152
]
All available evidence points to the SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site being the result of natural evolution.
[
136
]
[
145
]
[
148
]
Political and government opinion
The situation reignited a debate over
gain-of-function research
, although the intense political rhetoric surrounding the issue has threatened to sideline serious inquiry over policy in this domain.
[
153
]
Researchers have said the politicization of the debate is making the process more difficult, and that words are often twisted to become "fodder for conspiracy theories".
[
154
]
[
27
]
[
32
]
The idea of an experiment conducted in 2015 on SARS-like coronaviruses being the source of the pandemic was reported in British tabloids early in the pandemic.
[
155
]
Virologist
Angela Rasmussen
writes that this is unlikely, due to the intense scrutiny and government oversight gain-of-function research is subject to, and that it is improbable that research on hard-to-obtain coronaviruses could occur under the radar.
[
83
]
Kentucky
Senator
Rand Paul
alleged that the US
National Institutes of Health
(NIH) had been funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, accusing researchers including epidemiologist Ralph Baric of creating "super-viruses".
[
133
]
[
81
]
Both Fauci and NIH Director
Francis Collins
denied that the US government supported such research.
[
133
]
[
134
]
[
156
]
Baric likewise rejected Paul's allegations, saying his lab's research into cross-species transmission of bat coronaviruses did not qualify as gain-of-function.
[
81
]
While a 2017 study of
chimeric
bat coronaviruses at the WIV listed NIH as a sponsor, NIH funding was only related to sample collection.
[
81
]
A
Washington Post
fact-checker commented that "
EcoHealth
funding was not related to the experiments, but the collection of samples", and that "statements about Baric's research appear overblown".
[
81
]
In October 2021, a spokesman for the NIH acknowledged that the EcoHealth Alliance had provided new data demonstrating that in a mouse experiment, a coronavirus had caused more weight loss than expected.
[
157
]
This was described as an unexpected consequence of the research, and not its intended outcome or a component of the original funding proposal.
[
158
]
Importantly, the NIH spokesman said this finding was provided in a late progress report, and was not available before prior statements about experiments at the WIV.
[
159
]
An August 2021 interim report authored by the
minority staff
of the
Republican
members of the
US House Foreign Affairs Committee
said that a laboratory leak origin for SARS-CoV-2 was more likely than a natural one.
[
160
]
[
161
]
The report alleged that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in humans as a result of gain-of-function research made on the
RaTG13
virus, collected in a cave in
Yunnan
province in 2012, which was afterwards accidentally released some time before September 12, 2019, when the database of the
Wuhan Institute of Virology
went offline.
[
162
]
[
163
]
The August 2021 report relies mostly on existing public evidence, combined with internal documents from the
CCP
from before and during the early days of the pandemic.
[
164
]
The interim report was published coinciding with a joint investigation from
ProPublica
and
Vanity Fair
.
[
165
]
[
166
]
Immediately following its publication, the report was heavily criticized by experts in diplomacy and the Chinese language for mistranslations and misinterpretations of Chinese documents.
[
167
]
[
168
]
Bacteriologist and lab leak theory proponent
Richard Ebright
criticized the report for packaging pre-existing and previously examined evidence as new information.
[
160
]
Evolutionary biologist
Michael Worobey
commented that the document seemed to be either "a cynical effort to try to win Republican votes" in the November 2022 midterm elections, or "a bunch of staffers with no ability to understand the science who stumbled across a bunch of misinformation and disinformation-filled tweets."
[
169
]
Virologist
Angela Rasmussen
described the report as "an embarrassingly bad use of taxpayer money and resources."
[
160
]
The final version of the report was released on April 18, 2023. The final version reiterated the interim position that the pandemic began in a laboratory incident in the fall of 2019, based on what it called a "preponderance of circumstantial evidence".
[
170
]
Fringe views on genetic engineering
The earliest known recorded mention of any type of lab leak theory appeared in the form of a tweet published on January 5, 2020, from a Hong Kong user named @GarboHK, insinuating that the Chinese government had created a new virus and intentionally released it.
[
28
]
[
29
]
Similar ideas were later formalized in a
preprint
posted on
BioRxiv
on January 31, 2020, by researchers at the
Indian Institute of Technology
, claiming to find similarities between the new coronavirus' genome and that of HIV. The paper was quickly retracted due to irregularities in the researchers' "technical approach and...interpretation of the results".
[
171
]
[
172
]
This claim was promoted by
Luc Montagnier
, a controversial French virologist and
Nobel laureate
, who contended that SARS-CoV-2 might have been created during research on a
HIV/AIDS vaccine
.
[
173
]
[
174
]
Bioinformatics analyses show that the common sequences are short, that their similarity is insufficient to support the hypothesis of common origin, and that the identified sequences were independent insertions which occurred at varied points during the evolution of coronaviruses.
[
32
]
[
175
]
[
176
]
Further claims were promulgated by several
anti-vaccine
activists, such as
Judy Mikovits
and
James Lyons-Weiler
, who claimed that SARS-CoV-2 was created in a laboratory,
[
177
]
with Mikovits going further and stating that the virus was both deliberately engineered and deliberately released.
[
178
]
[
16
]
Weiler's analysis, where he argued that a long sequence in the middle of the spike protein of the virus was not found in other coronaviruses and was evidence for laboratory recombination, was dismissed by scientists, who found that the sequence in question was also found in many other coronaviruses, suggesting that it was "widely spread" in nature.
[
177
]
Chinese researcher
Li-Meng Yan
was an early proponent of deliberate genetic engineering, releasing widely criticised
preprint
papers in favor of the lab leak theory in the spring of 2020.
[
179
]
[
180
]
After she released her preprints, political operatives (including
Steve Bannon
and
Guo Wengui
) arranged for Yan to flee to the United States in the summer of 2020 to engage in a speaking tour on right-wing media outlets, as a method of distracting from the Trump administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
[
181
]
According to scientific reviewers from the
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
, Yan's paper offered "contradictory and inaccurate information that does not support their argument,"
[
180
]
while reviewers from
MIT Press
's
Rapid Reviews: COVID-19
criticised her preprints as not demonstrating "sufficient scientific evidence to support [their] claims."
[
179
]
In September 2022, a panel assembled by
The Lancet
published a wide-ranging report on the pandemic, including commentary on the virus origin overseen by the group's chairman
Jeffrey Sachs
. This suggested that the virus may have originated from an American laboratory, a notion long-promoted by Sachs, including on the podcast of conspiracy theorist
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Reacting to this, virologist
Angela Rasmussen
commented that this may have been "one of The Lancet's most shameful moments regarding its role as a steward and leader in communicating crucial findings about science and medicine".
[
182
]
Virologist
David Robertson
said the suggestion of US laboratory involvement was "wild speculation" and that "it's really disappointing to see such a potentially influential report contributing to further misinformation on such an important topic".
[
182
]
Deliberate release
Historian of science
Naomi Oreskes
says that she does not know of any credible scientists who support the view that the virus was released deliberately, while the version proposing the virus may have escaped accidentally is more plausible.
[
183
]
In the United States, Senator
Marsha Blackburn
proposed a bill that would allow people to lodge lawsuits against China for use of a "biological weapon", stating that "China has a 5,000-year history of cheating and stealing. Some things will never change".
[
184
]
Media reports
The first media reports suggesting a SARS-CoV-2 lab leak appeared in the
Daily Mail
and
The Washington Times
in late January 2020.
[
28
]
In a January 31, 2020, interview with
Science
, Professor Richard Ebright said there was a possibility that SARS-CoV-2 entered humans through a laboratory accident in Wuhan, and that all data on the genome sequence and properties of the virus were "consistent with entry into the human population as either a natural accident or a laboratory accident".
[
185
]
A February 5, 2021, report from
Caixin
described these reports as rumors originating from two sources: a preprint paper by an Indian scholar posted to
bioRxiv
that was later withdrawn, and a
BBC China
report.
[
186
]
[
187
]
On February 8, 2023, the acting director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) testified before a Republican-led House committee that the viruses studied in the Wuhan lab "bear no relationship" to SARS-CoV-2 and that suggesting equivalency would be akin to "saying that a human is equivalent to a cow".
[
188
]
In early 2021, the hypothesis returned to popular debate due to renewed media discussion.
[
189
]
The renewed interest was prompted by two events. First, an article published in May by
The Wall Street Journal
reported that lab workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill with COVID-19-like symptoms in November 2019. The report was based on off-the-record briefings with intelligence officials.
[
189
]
[
130
]
[
190
]
The cases would precede official reports from the Chinese government stating the first known cases were in December 2019, although unpublished government data suggested the earliest cases were detected in mid-November.
[
191
]
[
192
]
The Guardian
stated that the
WSJ
article did little to confirm, in terms of good, quality evidence, the possibility of a lab leak;
[
193
]
a declassified report from the
National Intelligence Council
likewise said that the fact the researchers were hospitalized was unrelated to the origins of the outbreak.
[
194
]
Second, it was shown that
Peter Daszak
, the key organiser of the February 2020 statement in
The Lancet
, did not disclose connections to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
[
34
]
[
189
]
[
130
]
[
195
]
An addendum was later published by
The Lancet
, in which Daszak listed his previous cooperation with Chinese researchers.
[
196
]
After the publication of the WHO-convened report, politicians, talk show hosts, journalists, and some scientists advanced claims that SARS-CoV-2 may have come from the WIV.
[
40
]
DRASTIC also contributed to its promotion, particularly via
Twitter
.
[
197
]
In July 2021, a
Harvard
–
Politico
survey indicated that 52 percent of Americans believed that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak, while 28 percent believed that COVID-19 originated from an infected animal in nature.
[
198
]
By March 2023, the percentage of Americans believing in lab origin had doubled (from 30% to 60%) since 3 years earlier, and the percentage of Americans believing in natural origins had halved (from 40% to 20%).
[
199
]
Science educationalist Heslley Machado Silva describes the idea of a China-produced virus as part of "xenophobic social network crusade" akin to a far-fetched movie scenario, which has nevertheless garnered many millions of internet adherents. Silva raises a plea for the pandemic to be a time for humanity to become "better and not an opportunity to foment hatred".
[
200
]
After May 2021, some media organizations softened previous language that described the laboratory leak theory as "debunked" or a "conspiracy theory".
[
201
]
However, the prevailing scientific view remained that while an accidental leak was possible, it was highly unlikely.
[
37
]
[
40
]
A group of scientists called the "Paris group" in 2021 advocated for an inquiry into the role of scientific and medical journals which they claimed to have rebuffed dozens of articles about the possibility of the lab leak hypothesis.
[
202
]
Some commentators such as science journalist
Jane Qiu
and academic
Zeynep Tufekci
have criticized the immediate framing of the lab leak theory as a conspiracy theory.
[
203
]
[
204
]
China–US relations
The origin of COVID-19 became a source of friction in
China–United States relations
. The lab leak theory was promulgated in early 2020 by United States politicians and media, particularly US president
Donald Trump
, other prominent Republicans, and conservative media (such as
Fox News
pundit Tucker Carlson, and former
Breitbart News
publisher and White House chief strategist
Steve Bannon
).
[
189
]
[
130
]
Trump had also referred to the virus as "kung flu",
[
205
]
and the administration also expressed the intention to sanction China.
[
206
]
In April 2020, Trump claimed to have evidence for the lab leak theory, but refused to produce it when requested.
[
130
]
[
207
]
At that time, the media did not distinguish between the accidental lab leak of a natural virus and
bio-weapon origin conspiracy theories
. In online discussions, various theories – including the lab leak theory – were combined to form larger, baseless conspiracy plots.
[
189
]
In May 2020, Fox News host
Tucker Carlson
accused
Anthony Fauci
of having "funded the creation of COVID" through gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).
[
133
]
Citing an essay by science writer
Nicholas Wade
, Carlson alleged that Fauci had directed research to make bat viruses more infectious to humans.
[
156
]
Facebook
enacted a policy to remove discussion of the lab leak theory as misinformation; it lifted the ban a year later, in May 2021.
[
34
]
[
208
]
[
209
]
A
BBC China
report stated that on February 14, Chinese president
Xi Jinping
proposed for biosafety to be incorporated into law; the following day, new measures were introduced to "strengthen the management of laboratories", especially those working with viruses.
[
186
]
[
187
]
In April 2020,
The Guardian
reported that China had taken steps to tightly regulate domestic research into the source of the outbreak in an attempt to control the narrative surrounding its origins and encourage speculation that the virus started outside the country.
[
210
]
In May 2020, Chinese state media carried statements by scientists countering claims that the seafood market and Institute of Virology were possible origin sites, including comments by
George Gao
, director of the
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
.
[
211
]
In the United States, anti-China misinformation spread on social media, including baseless bio-weapon claims, fueled aggressive rhetoric towards people of Asian ancestry,
[
212
]
and the bullying of scientists.
[
40
]
Some scientists were worried their words would be misconstrued and used to support racist rhetoric.
[
205
]
A
letter
published in
Science
by
Jesse Bloom
and others, outlined the uncertain origin of
SARS-CoV-2
and proved an impetus for misinformation.
[
213
]
[
214
]
The letter was criticized by virologists and public health experts, who said that a "hostile" and "divisive" focus on the WIV was unsupported by evidence, was impeding inquiries into legitimate concerns about China's pandemic response and transparency by combining them with speculative and meritless argument,
[
26
]
and would cause Chinese scientists and authorities to share less rather than more data.
[
40
]
Some members of the Chinese government have promoted a counter-conspiracy theory claiming that SARS‑CoV‑2 originated in the U.S. military installation at
Fort Detrick
.
[
215
]
[
122
]
This theory has little support. Chinese demands to investigate U.S. laboratories are thought to be a distracting technique to push focus away from Wuhan.
[
216
]
Attacks on scientists
A consistent feature of all varieties of the lab leak theory is that they direct blame at scientists. Scientists are accused of engineering the virus or negligently allowing it to escape their laboratories, and then conspiring to cover-up their misdeeds.
[
217
]
Two
Rutgers University
faculty members –
Richard Ebright
and Bryce Nickels – have been prominent social media posters advancing the lab leak position, and have continually attacked COVID-19 researchers, and compared them to
Nazis
and
Pol Pot
. In March 2024, twelve scientists made a formal complaint to Rutgers about Ebright and Nickels, saying they had posted messages to social media which risked their safety and which could be defamatory. Ebright reacted to the complaint saying it was "a crude effort to silence […] opponents" and Nickels said the complaint contained "deliberate lies".
[
218
]
Negative societal effects
According to
Paul Thacker
(writing for the
British Medical Journal
), some scientists and reporters said that "objective consideration of COVID-19's origins went awry early in the pandemic, as researchers who were funded to study viruses with pandemic potential launched a campaign labelling the lab leak hypothesis as a 'conspiracy theory.'"
[
34
]
In February 2020, a letter was published in
The Lancet
authored by 27 scientists and spearheaded by Peter Daszak which described some alternate origin ideas as "conspiracy theories".
[
219
]
Filippa Lentzos
said some scientists "closed ranks" as a result, fearing for their careers and grants.
[
34
]
The letter was criticized by
Jamie Metzl
for "scientific propaganda and thuggery",
[
220
]
and by
Katherine Eban
as having had a "
chilling effect
" on scientific research and the scientific community by implying that scientists who "bring up the lab-leak theory ... are doing the work of conspiracy theorists".
[
221
]
[
130
]
Early in 2020, scientists including
Jeremy Farrar
,
Kristian G. Andersen
, and
Robert F. Garry
, among others, sent emails to Anthony Fauci with questions regarding what Andersen referred to as "crackpot conspiracy theories" about a lab leak, and whether evidence supported them.
[
222
]
[
223
]
NIH director
Francis Collins
was concerned at the time that discussion of the possibility could damage "international harmony".
[
224
]
After the discovery of similar viruses in nature, more research into the genome, and the availability of more genomic sequences from the early days of the pandemic, these scientists publicly stated they supported the zoonotic theory as the most likely explanation.
[
225
]
[
226
]
[
15
]
[
227
]
Some journalists and scientists said they dismissed or avoided discussing the lab leak theory during the first year of the pandemic as a result of perceived polarization resulting from Donald Trump's embrace of the lab leak theory.
[
205
]
[
201
]
[
228
]
[
229
]
The chair of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology,
Arturo Casadevall
, said that, he (like many others) previously underestimated the lab leak hypothesis "mainly because the emphasis then [early in the pandemic] was on the idea of a deliberately engineered virus". However, by May 2021 it was a "long-simmering concern" in scientific circles, and that he perceived "greater openness" to it.
[
230
]
By fall 2022, the scientific consensus was that the pandemic most likely began with a natural zoonosis.
[
231
]
[
15
]
[
17
]
The most likely natural reservoir is believed to reside in bats, with a possible intermediate host (such as
palm civets
,
[
232
]
[
233
]
minks
,
[
234
]
[
233
]
or
pangolins
[
66
]
[
235
]
), before spillover into humans.
[
236
]
[
237
]
In March 2023, James Alwine and colleagues argued that continuing to frame the lab leak hypothesis as being as likely as natural spillover was responsible for a misdirection of scientific effort, which could compromise progress towards preparing for future pandemics.
[
43
]
In August 2024 the
Lancet Microbe
published an editorial saying it is "simply wrong" to assert that SARS-CoV-2 is of unnatural origin, and ascribed continued interest in the unnatural origin idea to irresponsible journalism and political motivation. The editorial expressed concern that the furore around the virus's origins had a "chilling effect" on legitimate virology research and could jeopardise mankind's safety from pathogens in the future.
[
238
]
Government and intelligence agencies
Some intelligence agencies have assessed the possibility of a lab leak origin for SARS-CoV-2. Such assessments evaluate source credibility rather than conduct scientific research.
[
239
]
In 2020,
Der Spiegel
reported that Germany’s Defence Ministry, in an internal memo, dismissed lab leak theories as a U.S. political distraction from pandemic policy failures.
[
240
]
In 2025, German newspapers said that an unpublished 2020
Federal Intelligence Service
report estimated a 80–90% probability of a lab leak.
[
241
]
In late 2024, the German government requested an external review of the unpublished report.
[
242
]
An August 2021 U.S. report, commissioned by
President Biden
, found no evidence of Chinese foreknowledge of the COVID-19 outbreak.
[
243
]
The inconclusive assessment included four agencies (and the
National Intelligence Council
) favoring zoonotic origin with low confidence, three undecided, and the FBI supporting a lab leak with moderate confidence.
[
244
]
[
245
]
[
246
]
British intelligence deemed a lab leak "feasible".
[
247
]
In February 2023, the
U.S. Department of Energy
shifted to a "low confidence" lab leak assessment, indicating unreliable sources.
[
248
]
[
249
]
[
250
]
[
251
]
FBI Director
Christopher Wray
reiterated the bureau’s stance, accusing China of obstructing investigations.
[
252
]
[
253
]
National Security Advisor
Jake Sullivan stated that there was "no definitive answer." to the pandemic origins' question.
[
249
]
[
254
]
A declassified June 2023
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
report found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in labs or biosafety incidents but could not rule out a leak. Most agencies (with low confidence) favored zoonotic origin.
[
255
]
[
256
]
[
257
]
Lab leak proponents accused intelligence agencies of bias or incompetence.
[
18
]
Science reporter Liam Mannix called it the end of the lab leak theory.
[
18
]
[
257
]
In 2025, the CIA stated the virus was "more likely" from a lab leak but with "low confidence".
[
258
]
On April 18, 2025, the
second Trump administration
removed the online hub for federal COVID-19 resources and redirected the domain to a whitehouse.gov page endorsing the lab leak theory.
[
259
]
Virologist Angela Rasmussen called the page "pure propaganda, intended to justify the systematic devastation of... programs devoted to public health and biomedical research".
[
260
]
Developments since 2022
In June 2022, the WHO released a report advocating for more investigation into the lab leak theory.
[
261
]
In response, Chinese
Foreign Ministry
spokesperson
Zhao Lijian
called the lab leak theory "a lie concocted by anti-China forces for political purposes, which has nothing to do with science".
[
262
]
In July 2022, two articles appeared in the journal
Science
analyzing all available epidemiological and genetic evidence from the earliest known cases in Wuhan.
[
7
]
Based on two different analyses, the authors of both papers concluded that the outbreak began at the
Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market
and was unconnected to any laboratory. A third paper (a
pre-print
)
[
263
]
examined RNA samples taken directly from the market in the spring of 2020 and detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental samples collected from animal stalls and sewage wells at the market.
[
264
]
[
20
]
The RNA detected was highly similar to viruses which infected early outbreak patients who became sick after being present at the market.
[
265
]
[
266
]
No virus was detected in any samples taken directly from animals at the market.
University of Sydney
virologist and co-author of both publications
Edward C. Holmes
commented that "The siren has definitely sounded on the lab leak theory" and "There's no emails. There's no evidence in any of the science. There's absolutely nothing".
[
267
]
In 2026, virologist Joel Wertheim and colleagues at
UCSD
published a study in the journal
Cell
which compared evolutionary patterns of outbreaks of Ebola, influenza and other viruses.
[
268
]
They found that the mutation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 matched five naturally occurring outbreaks, but did not resemble the
1977 Russian flu
outbreak which was likely from a lab leak.
[
269
]
[
270
]
References
^
a
b
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[
4
]
Worobey et al. "The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic"
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5
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Pekar et al. "The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2".
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8
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Common raccoon dog
(
Nyctereutes procyonoides
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[
3
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American mink
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eISSN
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PMC
9278178
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PMID
35872966
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^
Mannix L (August 2, 2022).
"
'The siren has sounded': Scientists pinpoint COVID's origin"
.
The Sydney Morning Herald
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2022
. Retrieved
August 3,
2022
.
^
Havens JL, Kosakovsky Pond SL, Zehr JD, Pekar JE (2026). "Dynamics of natural selection preceding human viral epidemics and pandemics".
Cell
. Elsevier BV.
doi
:
10.1016/j.cell.2026.02.006
.
ISSN
0092-8674
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^
Zimmer C (March 9, 2026).
Viral Outbreaks Take a Common Path from Animals to People, Study Finds
.
ISSN
0362-4331
. Retrieved
March 11,
2026
.
^
"Recent pandemic viruses jumped to humans without prior adaptation, UC San Diego study finds"
.
EurekAlert!
. March 9, 2026
. Retrieved
March 11,
2026
.
Further reading
Kim JH, Park J (2023).
"Perceived China Threat, Conspiracy Belief, and Public Support for Restrictive Immigration Control During the COVID-19 Pandemic"
.
Race and Justice
.
13
(1):
130–
152.
doi
:
10.1177/21533687221125818
.
PMC
9561504
.
Komesaroff PA, Dwyer DE (September 2023).
"The Question of the Origins of COVID-19 and the Ends of Science"
.
J Bioeth Inq
.
20
(4):
575–
583.
doi
:
10.1007/s11673-023-10303-1
.
PMC
10942872
.
PMID
37697176
.
Zhu AL, Chen R, Rizzolo J, Qian J (June 2023).
"Perceptions of COVID-19 origins and China's wildlife policy reforms"
.
Glob Ecol Conserv
.
43
e02463.
Bibcode
:
2023GEcoC..4302463Z
.
doi
:
10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02463
.
PMC
10076075
.
PMID
37069900
.
External links
Declassified report from the National Intelligence Council
(
Executive summary
)
The Origins of COVID-19: an investigation of the Wuhan Institute of Virology
– report by
US House Foreign Affairs Committee
Minority Staff
World Health Organisation report on the origins of COVID-19
Articles
Holmes, Eddie.
The COVID ‘lab leak theory’ is dead
: Researchers have confirmed the virus came from a Wuhan wet market. August 15, 2022. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners website.
Moore, John.
The coronavirus lab leak hypothesis is damaging science
, August 2, 2024, Statnews website.
Qiu, Jane.
Meet the scientist at the center of the covid lab leak controversy
, February 9, 2022, MIT Technology Review. June 8, 2021
Maxmen, Amy.
The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don’t know
: Nature examines arguments that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a lab in China, and the science behind them. By Amy Maxmen & Smriti Mallapaty. June 8, 2021, Nature Magazine. |
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## Contents
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- [1 Background](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Background)
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- [1\.1 Zoonosis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Zoonosis)
- [1\.2 Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology)
- [1\.3 Prior lab leak incidents and conspiracy theories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Prior_lab_leak_incidents_and_conspiracy_theories)
- [1\.4 Psychological and social factors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Psychological_and_social_factors)
- [2 Proposed scenarios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Proposed_scenarios)
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- [2\.1 Origins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Origins)
- [2\.2 Accidental release of a natural virus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Accidental_release_of_a_natural_virus)
- [2\.2.1 WHO assessment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#WHO_assessment)
- [2\.2.2 Mojiang copper mine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Mojiang_copper_mine)
- [2\.3 Accidental release of a genetically modified virus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Accidental_release_of_a_genetically_modified_virus)
- [2\.3.1 Furin cleavage site](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Furin_cleavage_site)
- [2\.3.2 Political and government opinion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Political_and_government_opinion)
- [2\.4 Fringe views on genetic engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Fringe_views_on_genetic_engineering)
- [2\.5 Deliberate release](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Deliberate_release)
- [3 Political, academic and media attention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Political,_academic_and_media_attention)
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- [3\.1 Media reports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Media_reports)
- [3\.2 China–US relations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#China%E2%80%93US_relations)
- [3\.3 Attacks on scientists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Attacks_on_scientists)
- [3\.4 Negative societal effects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Negative_societal_effects)
- [3\.5 Government and intelligence agencies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Government_and_intelligence_agencies)
- [3\.6 Developments since 2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Developments_since_2022)
- [4 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#References)
- [5 Further reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#Further_reading)
- [6 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#External_links)
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# COVID-19 lab leak theory
15 languages
- [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A8_%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3_%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%A7_%D9%85%D9%86_%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B1_%D9%88%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86 "نظرية تسرب فيروس كورونا من مختبر ووهان – Arabic")
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- [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teoria_de_la_fuita_de_laboratori_del_SARS-CoV-2 "Teoria de la fuita de laboratori del SARS-CoV-2 – Catalan")
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- [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origine_du_SARS-CoV-2#Accident_de_laboratoire "Origine du SARS-CoV-2 – French")
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teori_kebocoran_laboratorium_Covid-19 "Teori kebocoran laboratorium Covid-19 – Indonesian")
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- [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%BD%94%EB%A1%9C%EB%82%9819_%EC%97%B0%EA%B5%AC%EC%86%8C_%EC%9C%A0%EC%B6%9C%EC%84%A4 "코로나19 연구소 유출설 – Korean")
- [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teori_kebocoran_makmal_COVID-19 "Teori kebocoran makmal COVID-19 – Malay")
- [Deitsch](https://pdc.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory "COVID-19 lab leak theory – Pennsylvania German")
- [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipoteza_wycieku_laboratoryjnego_COVID-19 "Hipoteza wycieku laboratoryjnego COVID-19 – Polish")
- [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%BE_%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B5_COVID-19 "Теория о лабораторной утечке COVID-19 – Russian")
- [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%96%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%83_COVID-19 "Теорія лабораторного витоку COVID-19 – Ukrainian")
- [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E5%86%A0%E7%8A%B6%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E7%97%85%E6%AD%A6%E6%B1%89%E5%AE%9E%E9%AA%8C%E5%AE%A4%E9%87%8A%E6%94%BE%E4%B8%8E%E6%B3%84%E9%9C%B2%E8%AE%BA "2019冠状病毒病武汉实验室释放与泄露论 – Chinese")
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Proposed theory on the origins of COVID-19
This article is about the hypothesis proposing SARS-CoV-2 came from a laboratory. For bioweapon conspiracy theories, see [COVID-19 misinformation § Bio-weapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Bio-weapon "COVID-19 misinformation").
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology_main_entrance.jpg)
The [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") in [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan "Wuhan"), China
The **COVID-19 lab leak theory** is the hypothesis that [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2"), the virus responsible for the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic"), originated from a laboratory. This claim is highly controversial. There is [scientific consensus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_consensus "Scientific consensus") that the virus is not the result of [genetic engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering "Genetic engineering"). Most scientists believe it [spread to human populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillover_infection "Spillover infection") through natural [zoonotic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonotic "Zoonotic") transmission from [bats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bats "Bats"), similar to the [SARS-CoV-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-1 "SARS-CoV-1") and [MERS-CoV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MERS-CoV "MERS-CoV") outbreaks and consistent with other [pandemics throughout human history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics_and_pandemics "List of epidemics and pandemics").[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-McDonald-2025-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Most_scientists_zoonosis-2) Available evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 was originally harbored by bats and transmitted to humans through infected wild animals serving as [intermediate hosts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_hosts "Intermediate hosts") at the [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Market "Huanan Seafood Market") in [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan "Wuhan"), Hubei, China, in December 2019.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WorobeyPekar-7) Several candidate animal species have been identified as potential intermediaries.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Intermediatehosts-14) There is no evidence supporting laboratory involvement, no indication that the virus existed in any lab prior to the pandemic, and no record of suspicious [biosecurity incidents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_laboratory_biosecurity_incidents "List of laboratory biosecurity incidents").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2022-17)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SMH-2023-18)
Many scenarios proposed for a lab leak are characteristic of [conspiracy theories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theories "Conspiracy theories").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) Central to many is a misplaced suspicion based on the proximity of the outbreak to the [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") (WIV), where [coronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronaviruses "Coronaviruses") are studied. Most large Chinese cities have laboratories that study coronaviruses,[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) and virus outbreaks typically begin in rural areas, but are first noticed in large cities.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2022-21) If a coronavirus outbreak occurs in China, there is a high likelihood it will occur near a large city, and therefore near a laboratory studying coronaviruses.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2022-21)[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021a-22) The idea of a leak at the WIV also gained support due to secrecy during the [Chinese government's response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_government_response_to_COVID-19 "Chinese government response to COVID-19").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23) The lab leak theory and its weaponization by politicians have both leveraged and increased [anti-Chinese sentiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Chinese_sentiment "Anti-Chinese sentiment"). Scientists from WIV had previously collected virus samples from bats in the wild, and allegations that they also performed undisclosed work on such viruses are central to some versions of the idea.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24) Some versions, particularly those alleging [genome engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genome_engineering "Genome engineering"), are based on [misinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Wuhan_lab_origin "COVID-19 misinformation") or misrepresentations of scientific evidence.[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-25)[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)
The idea that the virus was released from a laboratory (accidentally or deliberately) appeared early in the pandemic.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021-28)[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bandeira-2021-29) It gained popularity in the United States through promotion by [conservative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States "Conservatism in the United States") personalities in early 2020,[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-30) fomenting tensions between the U.S. and China.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-31) Scientists and media outlets widely dismissed it as a conspiracy theory.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-33) The accidental leak idea had a resurgence in 2021.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34) In March, the [World Health Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization "World Health Organization") (WHO) published a report which deemed the possibility "extremely unlikely", though the WHO's director-general said the report's conclusions were not definitive.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Miller-2021-35) Subsequent plans for laboratory audits were rejected by China.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-36)
Most scientists are skeptical of the possibility of a laboratory origin, citing a lack of any supporting evidence for a lab leak and the abundant evidence supporting zoonosis.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16)[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Consensus-37) Though some scientists agree a lab leak should be examined as part of ongoing [investigations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigations_into_the_origin_of_COVID-19 "Investigations into the origin of COVID-19"),[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mallapaty-2021-38)[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-39) [politicization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicization_of_science "Politicization of science") remains a concern.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40)[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-41) In July 2022, two papers published in *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* described novel epidemiological and genetic evidence that suggested the pandemic likely began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and did not come from a laboratory.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2022-17)[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-42)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WorobeyPekar-7)
## Background
Main article: [Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 § Reservoir and origin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severe_acute_respiratory_syndrome_coronavirus_2#Reservoir_and_origin "Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2")
The principal hypothesis for the [origin of COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_COVID-19 "Origin of COVID-19") is that it became infectious to humans through a natural [spillover event](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillover_event "Spillover event") (zoonosis), which is supported by available evidence.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Alwine-2023-43)[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) The origin of COVID-19 is not definitively known, and the theory it became infectious to humans through escape from a laboratory where it was being studied has not been definitively ruled out, however most scientists believe zoonosis is more likely,[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-n542-44)[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-c486-45)[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-p828-46) with a minority favoring the lab leak theory.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-w524-47)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-z311-48)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-r009-49) Arguments used in support of a laboratory leak have been described as characteristic of [conspiratorial thinking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory "Conspiracy theory").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) A 2024 survey of 168 experts, most of whom were [epidemiologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiologist "Epidemiologist") and [virologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virologist "Virologist"), found on average they viewed zoonosis as 77% likely and a lab leak as 21% likely.[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-q904-50)
### Zoonosis
Most new infectious diseases begin with a spillover event from animals.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40) These spill overs occur spontaneously, either by contact with wildlife animals, which are the majority of cases, or with farmed animals.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jones-2008-51)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Haider-2020-52) For example, the emergence of [Nipah virus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipah_virus "Nipah virus") in Perak, Malaysia, and the [2002 outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%932004_SARS_outbreak "2002–2004 SARS outbreak") of [SARS-CoV-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-1 "SARS-CoV-1") in Guangdong province, China, were natural zoonosis traced back to wildlife origin.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jones-2008-51) COVID-19 is considered by scientists to be "of probable animal origin".[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Haider-2020-52) It has been classified as a [zoonotic disease](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonotic_disease "Zoonotic disease") (naturally transmissible from animals to humans). Some scientists dispute this classification, since a [natural reservoir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_reservoir "Natural reservoir") has not been confirmed.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-53)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Haider-2020-52) The original source of viral transmission to humans remains unclear, as does whether the virus became [pathogenic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen "Pathogen") (capable of causing disease) before or after a spillover event.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2020-54)[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Andersen-2020-56)
Bats, a large reservoir of [betacoronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betacoronaviruses "Betacoronaviruses"), are considered the most likely natural reservoir of SARS‑CoV‑2.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-58) Differences between bat coronaviruses and SARS‑CoV‑2 suggest that humans may have been infected via an [intermediate host](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_host "Intermediate host").[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cyranoski-2020-59)[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Intermediatehosts-14) Research into the natural reservoir of the virus that caused the 2002 SARS outbreak has resulted in the discovery of many [SARS-like coronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-like_coronaviruses "SARS-like coronaviruses") circulating in bats, most found in [horseshoe bats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_bat "Horseshoe bat"). Analysis indicates that a virus collected from *[Rhinolophus affinis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinolophus_affinis "Rhinolophus affinis")* in a cave near the town of Tongguan in [Yunnan province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan_province "Yunnan province"), designated [RaTG13](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaTG13 "RaTG13"), has a 96% resemblance to SARS‑CoV‑2.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020-60)[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-61)[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-62) The RaTG13 virus genome was the closest known sequence to SARS-CoV-2 until the discovery of BANAL-52 in horseshoe bats in Laos,[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-63)[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020a-64) but it is [not its direct ancestor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_descent "Common descent").[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26) Other closely related sequences were also identified in samples from local bat populations in Yunnan province.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-65) One such virus, [RpYN06](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RpYN06 "RpYN06"), shares 97% identity with SARS-CoV-2 in one large part of its genome, but 94% identity overall. Such "chunks" of [very highly identical nucleic acids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_by_descent "Identity by descent") are often implicated as evidence of a [common ancestor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_recent_common_ancestor "Most recent common ancestor").[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Singh-2021-66)[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-67)
An ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 likely acquired "generalist" binding to several different species through adaptive evolution in bats and an intermediate host species.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Intermediatehosts-14)[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-68)[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-69)[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-70) Estimates based on genomic sequences and contact tracing have placed the origin point of SARS-CoV-2 in humans as between mid-October and mid-November 2019.[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-71)[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-72) Some scientists (such as Fauci above and [CIRAD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIRAD "CIRAD")'s Roger Frutos) have suggested slow, undetected circulation in a smaller number of humans before a threshold event (such as replication in a larger number of hosts in a larger city like Wuhan) could explain an undetected adaption period.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)
The first known human infections from SARS‑CoV‑2 were discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020-60) Because many of the early infectees were workers at the [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Market "Huanan Seafood Market"),[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-73)[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-74) it was originally suggested that the virus might have originated from wild animals sold in the market, including civet cats, raccoon dogs, bats, or pangolins.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Andersen-2020-56)[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cyranoski-2020-59) Subsequent environmental analyses demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the market, with highest prevalence in areas of the market where animals known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection were held.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Pekar-2022-6)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3) Early human cases clustered around the market, and included infections from two separate SARS-CoV-2 lineages.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Br%C3%BCssow-2023-75)[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cen-2023-76)[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Xia-2023-77)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3) These two lineages demonstrated that the virus was actively infecting a population of animals in the market, and that sustained contact between those animals and humans had allowed for multiple viral transmissions into humans.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Br%C3%BCssow-2023-75)[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cen-2023-76)[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Xia-2023-77)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3) All early cases of [COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 "COVID-19") were later shown to be localized to the market and its immediate vicinity.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)
While other wild animals susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection are known to have been sold at Huanan, no bats or pangolins were sold at the market.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-78)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)
### Wuhan Institute of Virology
The [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") and the [Wuhan Center for Disease Control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Center_for_Disease_Control "Wuhan Center for Disease Control") are located within miles of the original focal point of the pandemic, Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, and this very proximity has made it easy for conspiracy theories to take root suggesting the laboratory must be the virus' origin.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) However virology labs are often built near potential outbreak areas.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021a-22) Proponents of the lab leak theory typically omit to mention that most large Chinese cities have coronavirus research laboratories.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) Virus outbreaks tend to begin in rural areas, but are first noticed in large cities.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2022-21) [Stephan Lewandowsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephan_Lewandowsky "Stephan Lewandowsky") and colleagues write that the location of the Institute near the outbreak site is "literally a coincidence" and using that coincidence as *a priori* evidence for a lab leak typifies a kind of [conjunction fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunction_fallacy "Conjunction fallacy"). Furthermore, they observe that is ironic lab leak proponents are keen to argue for the significance of proximity of laboratories to the outbreak, while ignoring the proximity of wet markets, which have long-been identified as potential origins for viral spillover events.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phylogenetic_analysis_of_SARS-CoV-2_and_representative_sarbecoviruses_and_geographical_context.webp)
[Phylogenetic tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetic_tree "Phylogenetic tree") of SARS-CoV-2 and closely related betacoronaviruses (left) and their geographic context (right)
The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had been conducting research on SARS-like bat coronaviruses since 2005,[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-79) and was involved in 2015 experiments that some experts (such as [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright")) have characterized as [gain-of-function](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function "Gain-of-function").[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-80) Others (including [Ralph Baric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Baric "Ralph Baric")) have disputed the characterization, pointing out that the experiments in question (involving [chimeric viruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_genetics "Reverse genetics")) were not conducted at the WIV, but at [UNC Chapel Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNC_Chapel_Hill "UNC Chapel Hill"), whose [institutional biosafety committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafety "Biosafety") assessed the experiments as not "gain-of-function".[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) Baric did acknowledge the risks involved in such studies, writing, "Scientific review panels may deem similar studies building chimeric viruses based on circulating strains too risky to pursue ... The potential to prepare for and mitigate future outbreaks must be weighed against the risk of creating more dangerous pathogens."[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-82)
The fact that the lab is in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic's early outbreak took place,[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Rasmussen-2021-83) and the fact that the research at WIV was being conducted under the less stringent [biosafety levels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafety_level "Biosafety level") (BSL) 2 and 3,[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-84) has led to speculation that SARS-CoV-2 could have escaped from the Wuhan lab.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-85) Richard Ebright said one reason that lower-containment [BSL-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSL-2 "BSL-2") laboratories are sometimes used is the cost and inconvenience of high-containment facilities.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-86) Australian virologist Danielle Anderson, who was the last foreign scientist to visit the WIV before the pandemic, said the lab "worked in the same way as any other high-containment lab". She also said it had "strict safety protocols".[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-87) The Huanan Seafood Market may have only served as a jumping off point for a virus that was already circulating in Wuhan, facilitating rapid expansion of the outbreak.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2020-54)[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-88)
### Prior lab leak incidents and conspiracy theories
[Laboratory leak incidents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_laboratory_biosecurity_incidents "List of laboratory biosecurity incidents") have occurred in the past.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-89)[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-90) A Soviet [research facility in 1979 leaked anthrax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverdlovsk_anthrax_leak "Sverdlovsk anthrax leak") and at least 68 people died.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-The_Economist-2021-91) The [2007 foot-and-mouth outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_outbreak "2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak") in the UK was caused by a leaky pipe at a high-security laboratory.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-The_Economist-2021-91) The SARS virus escaped at least once, and probably twice, from a high-level biocontainment laboratory in China.[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-92)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16)[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-93)
Benign exposures to pathogens (which do not result in an infection) are probably under-reported, given the negative consequences of such events on the reputation of a host institution and low risk for widespread epidemics.[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-94) Epidemiologist [Marc Lipsitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Lipsitch "Marc Lipsitch") and bacteriologist [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright") have said that the risk of laboratory-acquired infection (especially with [modified pathogens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research "Gain-of-function research")) is greater than widely believed.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-95)[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-96)
No epidemic has ever been caused by the leak of a novel virus.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15) The only incident of a lab-acquired infection leading to an epidemic is the [1977 Russian flu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Russian_flu "1977 Russian flu") which was probably caused by a leaked strain of [H1N1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1N1 "H1N1") that had circulated naturally until the 1950s.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)
Previous novel disease outbreaks, such as [AIDS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS "AIDS"), [H1N1/09](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1N1/09 "H1N1/09"), [SARS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS "SARS"), and [Ebola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola "Ebola") have been the subject of conspiracy theories and allegations that the causative agent was created in or escaped from a laboratory.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-97)[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-98)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) Each of these is now understood to have a natural origin.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)
### Psychological and social factors
Public interest in the lab leak theory has in part been attributed to secrecy during the [Chinese government's response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_government_response_to_COVID-19 "Chinese government response to COVID-19") to the outbreak,[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23) which was characterized by a reluctance to share data and cooperate with international investigations.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-p828-46)[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-n542-44)
Survey work on the public in the United States has found that [identity politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics "Identity politics") and [racial resentment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_resentment "Racial resentment") are factors informing overconfident belief in the lab leak theory and COVID-19 misinformation in general. The researchers propose that this shows how such beliefs are resistant to refutation because they are not subject only to evidence, but to ingrained attitudes and notions of self.[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-99)
On social media the idea that COVID was a Chinese biological weapon has become widespread, and accords with rhetoric about how a [yellow peril](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_peril "Yellow peril") threatens white people.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-100) Science historian Fred Cooper and colleagues write that in the United Kingdom, attitudes to the Chinese have long been tainted by xenophobic stereotypes. Cooper draws a parallel between the Wuhan lab leak narrative, and the machinations of fictional supervillain [Fu Manchu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Manchu "Fu Manchu"), who is "expert in the deadly application of animal and biological agents" and who has been depicted on television shows as threatening the West with lethal diseases.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-101)
## Proposed scenarios
See also: [Investigations into the origin of COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigations_into_the_origin_of_COVID-19 "Investigations into the origin of COVID-19")
The lab leak theory is not a single discrete proposed scenario, but a collection of various proposed scenarios on a spectrum with, at one end, a careless accident from legitimate research; at the other, the engineering and release of a Chinese [biological weapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_weapon "Biological weapon").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) While the proposed scenarios are theoretically subject to evidence-based investigation, it is not clear that any can be sufficiently [falsified](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsified "Falsified") to placate lab leak supporters, as they are based on pseudoscientific and conspiratorial thinking.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19)
There is no evidence that any laboratory had samples of SARS-CoV-2, or a plausible ancestor virus, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)
Various sources have hypothesised that SARS-CoV-2 could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology or another laboratory in Wuhan, such as the [Wuhan Center for Disease Control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Center_for_Disease_Control "Wuhan Center for Disease Control"). The theories vary on whether this was an intentional act or an accident. Theories also vary on whether the virus was modified by human activity prior to being released. By January 2020 some lab leak proponents were promoting a narrative with conspiracist components; such narratives were often supported using "racist tropes that suggest that epidemiological, genetic, or other scientific data had been purposefully withheld or altered to obscure the origin of the virus".[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) [David Gorski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gorski "David Gorski") refers to "the blatant anti-Chinese racism and xenophobia behind lab leak, whose proponents often ascribe a nefarious coverup to the Chinese government".[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2022-102) Gorski later stated the lab leak hypothesis hasn't "stood up to scientific scrutiny".[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-103) The use of xenophobic rhetoric also caused a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-104)
### Origins
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, speculation about a laboratory leak was confined to conspiracy-minded portions of the internet, including [4Chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4Chan "4Chan") and [Infowars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infowars "Infowars"), but the ideas began to get wider traction after accusations about a "Chinese bioweapon" were originally published by [Great Game India](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Game_India&action=edit&redlink=1 "Great Game India (page does not exist)") and then republished by the [Red State Watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_State_Watch&action=edit&redlink=1 "Red State Watch (page does not exist)") and [Zero Hedge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Hedge "Zero Hedge") web sites.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105) From there, the idea gained media traction and was championed by American conservative political figures.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105)
The idea split into variants, including one that proposed Asian people were immune to COVID, or that the Chinese had a secret vaccine standing by for use. Some proposed that the Chinese government and World Health Organization were operating together in a conspiracy.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105) The American president of the time, Donald Trump, used anti-Chinese rhetoric (such as "Kung flu") to feed the idea, and said in an April 2020 news conference that he had documents supporting the idea that SARS-CoV-2 had come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105)
In reaction to this politicized environment, most mainstream science and media sources assumed that the lab leak idea was no more than racially fuelled propaganda, and by the summer of 2020 the idea was largely dismissed, until the next American president, Joe Biden, ordered an investigation into COVID's origins in 2021.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105)
### Accidental release of a natural virus
Some have hypothesised the virus arose in humans from an [accidental infection of laboratory workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory-acquired_infection "Laboratory-acquired infection") by contact with a sample extracted from a wild animal or by direct contact with a captive animal or its respiratory droplets or feces.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)
Former CDC director [Robert R. Redfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R._Redfield "Robert R. Redfield") said in March 2021 that in his opinion the most likely cause of the virus was a laboratory escape, which "doesn't imply any intentionality", and that as a virologist, he did not believe it made "biological sense" for the virus to be so "efficient in human to human transmission" from the early outbreak. The fact that scientists have not been successful in finding an intermediate host that picked up the virus from bats and passed it to humans is seen by some as evidence that supports a lab leak, according to *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*.[\[106\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-106)[\[107\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-107)
[University of Utah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Utah "University of Utah") virologist Stephen Goldstein has criticized the scientific basis of Redfield's comments, saying that since SARS-CoV-2's spike protein is very effective at jumping between hosts, one shouldn't be surprised that it transmits efficiently among humans. Goldstein said "If a [human virus \[such as SARS-CoV2\] can transmit among mink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_5 "Cluster 5"), there's no basis to assume a bat virus \[also SARS-CoV2\] can't transmit among humans. Us humans may think we're very special – but to a virus we are just another mammalian host."[\[108\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-108)
In June 2024, [Deborah Birx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Birx "Deborah Birx"), Donald Trump's Coronavirus Response Coordinator, in response to [CNN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN "CNN")'s [Kassie Hunt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasie_Hunt "Kasie Hunt") asking if there were efforts to discredit the lab leak theory, said "I do think it happened. If you look at what people said about Bob Redfield and how they disparaged him as a scientist because he wanted to bring forward the lab leak potential." She added: "And I think the reason \[Redfield\] felt he needed to bring it forward to push, was to push against this, ‘it had to be this way.’ Because we didn't know, and we knew we would never know."[\[109\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-109)[\[110\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-110)
#### WHO assessment
The [WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO-convened_Global_Study_of_Origins_of_SARS-CoV-2 "WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2"), written by a joint team of Chinese and international scientists and published in March 2021,[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mallapaty-2021-38)[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021c-111) assessed introduction through a laboratory incident to be "extremely unlikely" and not supported by any available evidence,[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)[\[112\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-112) although the report stated that this possibility could not be wholly ruled out without further evidence.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32) The report stated that human spillover via an intermediate animal host was the most likely explanation, with direct spillover from bats next most likely. Introduction through the food supply chain and the [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Market "Huanan Seafood Market") was considered less likely.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)
A small group of researchers said that they would not trust the report's conclusions because it was overseen by the Chinese government, and some observers felt the WHO's statement was premature.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23) Other scientists found the report convincing, and said there was no evidence of a laboratory origin for the virus.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021c-111)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom stated that the team had experienced difficulty accessing raw data on early COVID-19 cases and that the least likely hypothesis, a lab leak, required additional investigation because "further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions".[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Miller-2021-35)[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mallapaty-2021-38)[\[113\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-113) The leader of the WHO investigatory team, [Peter Ben Embarek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ben_Embarek "Peter Ben Embarek"), said "An employee of the lab gets infected while working in a bat cave collecting samples. Such a scenario, while being a lab leak, would also fit our first hypothesis of direct transmission of the virus from bat to human."[\[114\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-114)
The United States, European Union, and 13 other countries criticized the WHO-convened study, calling for transparency from the Chinese government and access to the raw data and original samples.[\[115\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-115) Chinese officials described these criticisms as "an attempt to politicise the study".[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zarocostas-2021-116) Scientists involved in the WHO report, including Liang Wannian, John Watson, and Peter Daszak, objected to the criticism, and said that the report was an example of the collaboration and dialogue required to successfully continue investigations into the matter.[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zarocostas-2021-116) Embarek later claimed in August 2021 that the WHO was put under pressure by Chinese scientists to dismiss the lab leak theory in its report.[\[117\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-e645-117)
On July 15, 2021, [WHO Director-General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_Director-General "WHO Director-General") [Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tedros_Adhanom_Ghebreyesus "Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus") said that the COVID-19 lab leak theory had been prematurely discarded by the WHO, following his earlier statements that a potential leak requires "further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts".[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-118) He proposed a second phase of WHO investigation, which he said should take a closer look at the lab leak idea, and asked the Chinese government to be "transparent" and release relevant data.[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Westcott-2021-119) Later on July 17, Tedros called for "audits of relevant laboratories and research institutions" in the area of the initial COVID-19 cases.[\[120\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-120) China's government refused saying it showed "disrespect" and "arrogance towards science".[\[121\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-121)[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Westcott-2021-119)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Buckley-2021-122) The United States criticised China's position on the follow-up origin probe as "irresponsible" and "dangerous".[\[123\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-123)
In June 2022, the WHO's [Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_Advisory_Group_for_Origins_of_Novel_Pathogens "Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens") (SAGO) published a preliminary report urged a deeper investigation into the possibility of a laboratory leak.[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-CBS-2022-124) The SAGO chair said in a press conference that "the strongest evidence is still around a zoonotic transmission".[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2022-125) The AP described the report as a "sharp reversal" of the WHO's previous assessment,[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-CBS-2022-124) and [Science.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science.org "Science.org") described reactions from academics as mixed.[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2022-125)
In early 2023, the WHO abandoned its original investigation into the origin of SARS-CoV-2, delegating work to its standing committee, SAGO, with plans to establish a COVID-19 timeline, search for similar viruses, and conduct further laboratory studies on animals and human samples.[\[126\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-126) In 2025, SAGO suggested that a zoonotic origin has the "weight of available evidence" and emphasized that the origin remains unresolved without additional primary data, including early patient records and sequences, detailed wildlife supply-chain documentation, and laboratory biosafety and health records from [Wuhan institutions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology").[\[127\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SAGO2025-127)
#### Mojiang copper mine
Members of DRASTIC, a collection of internet activists advocating for the lab leak theory,[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kormann-2021-128)[\[129\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-129) have raised concerns over a respiratory outbreak that happened in the spring of 2012 near an abandoned copper mine in China, which Shi Zhengli's group investigated. Shi's group collected a sample of viral RNA and named it RaBtCoV/4991.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26) Later, Shi's group published a paper about a virus named RaTG13 in *Nature* in February 2020.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020-60) Via sequence comparisons, it became clear that RaBtCoV/4991 and RaTG13 were likely the same virus. Shi has said that the renaming was done to reflect the origin location and year of the virus.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020a-64)
Some proponents, including [Nicholas Wade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Wade "Nicholas Wade") and pseudonymous DRASTIC member "TheSeeker268", argued that the renaming was an attempt to obscure the origins of the virus and hide how it could be related to a laboratory origin of the related SARS-CoV-2 virus.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130) Scientists have said that RaTG-13 is too distantly related to be connected to the pandemic's origins, and could not be altered in a laboratory to create SARS-CoV-2.[\[131\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-131) *Nature* later published an addendum to the 2020 RaTG13 paper addressing any possible link to the mine, in which Shi says that the virus was collected there, but that it was very likely not the cause of the miners' illnesses. According to the addendum, laboratory tests conducted on the workers' serum were negative, and "no antibodies to a SARS-like coronavirus had been found."[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020a-64)
### Accidental release of a genetically modified virus
See also: [Gain-of-function research § COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research#COVID-19_pandemic "Gain-of-function research")
There is a scientific consensus that [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2") is not the result of [genetic engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering "Genetic engineering").[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-McDonald-2025-1) Nevertheless, one conspiracy theory spread in support a laboratory origin suggests SARS-CoV-2 was developed for [gain-of-function research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research "Gain-of-function research") on coronaviruses.[\[132\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-132) The exact meaning of "gain of function" is disputed among experts.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81)[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133)[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bryant-2021-134) According to emailed statements by [Shi Zhengli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Zhengli "Shi Zhengli"), director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, her lab has not conducted any unpublished gain-of-function experiments on coronaviruses, and all WIV staff and students tested negative for the virus in the early days of the pandemic.[\[135\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-135)
#### Furin cleavage site
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1-s2.0-S1873506120304165-ga1_lrg.jpg)
[Phylogenetic tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetic_tree "Phylogenetic tree") depicting the presence (red) or absence (black) of a furin cleavage site in various [betacoronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betacoronavirus "Betacoronavirus"). From Wu et al.[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136)
One strand of argumentation in favor of a lab leak rests on the premise that there is something "unnatural" about the genetic makeup of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, showing it must have been created by genetic engineering.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19)[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-137) Some claims of bioengineering focus on the presence of two sequential [cytosine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytosine "Cytosine")\-[guanine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanine "Guanine")\-guanine (CGG) [codons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codon "Codon") in the virus' [RNA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA "RNA"), more precisely in the crucial [furin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furin "Furin") cleavage site.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) The CGG codon is one of several codons that [translates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_\(biology\) "Translation (biology)") into an [arginine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arginine "Arginine") [amino acid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid "Amino acid"), and it is the least common arginine codon in human pathogenic betacoronaviruses.[\[138\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-138) Partially, this lack of CGG codons in human pathogenic coronaviruses is due to [natural selection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection "Natural selection"); [B-cells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-cell "B-cell") in the human body recognize areas on virus genomes where C and G are next to each other (so-called [CpG islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CpG_sites "CpG sites")).[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Krieg-1995-139) The CGG codon makes up 5% of the arginine codons in the [SARS-CoV-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-1 "SARS-CoV-1") genome, and it makes up 3% of the arginine codons in the [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2") genome.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)
Proponents of an engineered virus, including journalist [Nicholas Wade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Wade "Nicholas Wade"), say that two such uncommon codons in a row are evidence for a laboratory experiment; because of the low chance of a CGG codon pair occurring in nature, and in contrast, the common usage of CGG codons for arginine in genetic engineering work.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) This has been debunked by scientists,[\[140\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-140)[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Grehan-2021-141) who note that the CGG codon is also present (and even more frequent) in other coronaviruses, including [MERS-CoV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MERS-CoV "MERS-CoV"),[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-142) and that a codon being rare does not mean it cannot be present naturally.[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Grehan-2021-141)[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021a-143) If the CGG codon had been engineered into the virus, it should have mutated out of the virus as it circulated in humans in the wild over several years, but the opposite has occurred.[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021a-143) In fact, the presence of the furin cleavage site, which is responsible for a significant increase in transmissibility, largely outweighs any disadvantageous immune responses from B-cells triggered by the genetic sequences which code for it.[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Krieg-1995-139)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)
Another source of speculation is the mere presence of the furin cleavage site.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136) It is absent in the closest known relatives of SARS-CoV-2 (but present in other [betacoronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betacoronavirus "Betacoronavirus"), e.g., BtHpCoV-ZJ13).[\[144\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-144) This anomaly is most probably the result of [recombination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_recombination "Genetic recombination"),[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136)[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Whittaker-2021-145) and is further unsurprising since the genetic lineage of these viruses has not been adequately explored, sampled, or sequenced.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-146)[\[147\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-147) A common occurrence among other coronaviruses (including MERS-CoV, [HCoV-OC43](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCoV-OC43 "HCoV-OC43"), [HCoV-HKU1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCoV-HKU1 "HCoV-HKU1"), and appearing in near-identical fashion in [HKU9-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HKU9-1 "HKU9-1")), the site is preceded by short [palindromic sequences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palindromic_sequence "Palindromic sequence") suggestive of natural recombination caused by simple [evolutionary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution "Evolution") mechanisms. Additionally, the suboptimal configuration and poor targeting of the cleavage site for humans or mice when compared with known examples (such as HCoV-OC43 or HCoV-HKU1), along with the complex and onerous molecular biology work this would have required, is inconsistent with what would be expected from an engineered virus.[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021b-148)
Project DEFUSE was a rejected [DARPA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA "DARPA") grant application, that proposed to sample bat coronaviruses from various locations in China.[\[149\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-149) The rejected proposal document was posted online by DRASTIC in September 2021.[\[150\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-150) Co-investigators on the rejected proposal included the [EcoHealth Alliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EcoHealth_Alliance "EcoHealth Alliance")'s [Peter Daszak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Daszak "Peter Daszak"), [Ralph Baric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Baric "Ralph Baric") from [UNC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina "University of North Carolina"), Linfa Wang from [Duke–NUS Medical School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke%E2%80%93NUS_Medical_School "Duke–NUS Medical School") in Singapore, and Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kormann-2021-128) The grantees proposed to evaluate the ability of bat viruses to infect human cells in the laboratory using [chimeric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_\(virus\) "Chimera (virus)") coronaviruses which were mutated in different locations, and to create protein-based vaccines out of the spike (S) protein (not the whole virus) which would be distributed to bats in the wild to reduce the chances of future human outbreaks.[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-151) One proposed alteration was to modify bat coronaviruses to insert a cleavage site for the Furin protease at the S1/S2 junction of the [spike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_spike_protein "Coronavirus spike protein") (S) viral protein. There is no evidence that any genetic manipulation or [reverse genetics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_genetics#Vaccine_synthesis "Reverse genetics") (a technique required to make chimeric viruses) of SARS-related bat coronaviruses was ever carried out at the WIV.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kormann-2021-128)[\[152\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-152) All available evidence points to the SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site being the result of natural evolution.[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136)[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Whittaker-2021-145)[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021b-148)
#### Political and government opinion
The situation reignited a debate over [gain-of-function research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research "Gain-of-function research"), although the intense political rhetoric surrounding the issue has threatened to sideline serious inquiry over policy in this domain.[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-153) Researchers have said the politicization of the debate is making the process more difficult, and that words are often twisted to become "fodder for conspiracy theories".[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-154)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32) The idea of an experiment conducted in 2015 on SARS-like coronaviruses being the source of the pandemic was reported in British tabloids early in the pandemic.[\[155\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-155) Virologist [Angela Rasmussen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Rasmussen "Angela Rasmussen") writes that this is unlikely, due to the intense scrutiny and government oversight gain-of-function research is subject to, and that it is improbable that research on hard-to-obtain coronaviruses could occur under the radar.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Rasmussen-2021-83)
[Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky "Kentucky") Senator [Rand Paul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rand_Paul "Rand Paul") alleged that the US [National Institutes of Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institutes_of_Health "National Institutes of Health") (NIH) had been funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, accusing researchers including epidemiologist Ralph Baric of creating "super-viruses".[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133)[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) Both Fauci and NIH Director [Francis Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Collins "Francis Collins") denied that the US government supported such research.[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133)[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bryant-2021-134)[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dapcevich-2021-156) Baric likewise rejected Paul's allegations, saying his lab's research into cross-species transmission of bat coronaviruses did not qualify as gain-of-function.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) While a 2017 study of [chimeric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimeric_virus "Chimeric virus") bat coronaviruses at the WIV listed NIH as a sponsor, NIH funding was only related to sample collection.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) A *Washington Post* fact-checker commented that "[EcoHealth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EcoHealth_Alliance "EcoHealth Alliance") funding was not related to the experiments, but the collection of samples", and that "statements about Baric's research appear overblown".[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) In October 2021, a spokesman for the NIH acknowledged that the EcoHealth Alliance had provided new data demonstrating that in a mouse experiment, a coronavirus had caused more weight loss than expected.[\[157\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-157) This was described as an unexpected consequence of the research, and not its intended outcome or a component of the original funding proposal.[\[158\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-158) Importantly, the NIH spokesman said this finding was provided in a late progress report, and was not available before prior statements about experiments at the WIV.[\[159\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-159)
An August 2021 interim report authored by the [minority staff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_staff#Committee_staff "Congressional staff") of the [Republican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_\(United_States\) "Republican Party (United States)") members of the [US House Foreign Affairs Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Foreign_Affairs "United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs") said that a laboratory leak origin for SARS-CoV-2 was more likely than a natural one.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2022-160)[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-161) The report alleged that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in humans as a result of gain-of-function research made on the [RaTG13](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaTG13 "RaTG13") virus, collected in a cave in [Yunnan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan "Yunnan") province in 2012, which was afterwards accidentally released some time before September 12, 2019, when the database of the [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") went offline.[\[162\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-162)[\[163\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-163) The August 2021 report relies mostly on existing public evidence, combined with internal documents from the [CCP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCP "CCP") from before and during the early days of the pandemic.[\[164\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-164)
The interim report was published coinciding with a joint investigation from *[ProPublica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ProPublica "ProPublica")* and *[Vanity Fair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_\(magazine\) "Vanity Fair (magazine)")*.[\[165\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-165)[\[166\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-166) Immediately following its publication, the report was heavily criticized by experts in diplomacy and the Chinese language for mistranslations and misinterpretations of Chinese documents.[\[167\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-167)[\[168\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-168) Bacteriologist and lab leak theory proponent [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright") criticized the report for packaging pre-existing and previously examined evidence as new information.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2022-160) Evolutionary biologist [Michael Worobey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Worobey "Michael Worobey") commented that the document seemed to be either "a cynical effort to try to win Republican votes" in the November 2022 midterm elections, or "a bunch of staffers with no ability to understand the science who stumbled across a bunch of misinformation and disinformation-filled tweets."[\[169\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-169) Virologist [Angela Rasmussen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Rasmussen "Angela Rasmussen") described the report as "an embarrassingly bad use of taxpayer money and resources."[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2022-160) The final version of the report was released on April 18, 2023. The final version reiterated the interim position that the pandemic began in a laboratory incident in the fall of 2019, based on what it called a "preponderance of circumstantial evidence".[\[170\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-170)
### Fringe views on genetic engineering
See also: [COVID-19 misinformation § Gain-of-function research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Gain-of-function_research "COVID-19 misinformation")
The earliest known recorded mention of any type of lab leak theory appeared in the form of a tweet published on January 5, 2020, from a Hong Kong user named @GarboHK, insinuating that the Chinese government had created a new virus and intentionally released it.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021-28)[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bandeira-2021-29) Similar ideas were later formalized in a [preprint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preprint "Preprint") posted on [BioRxiv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioRxiv "BioRxiv") on January 31, 2020, by researchers at the [Indian Institute of Technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Institute_of_Technology "Indian Institute of Technology"), claiming to find similarities between the new coronavirus' genome and that of HIV. The paper was quickly retracted due to irregularities in the researchers' "technical approach and...interpretation of the results".[\[171\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-171)[\[172\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-172) This claim was promoted by [Luc Montagnier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Montagnier "Luc Montagnier"), a controversial French virologist and [Nobel laureate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_laureate "Nobel laureate"), who contended that SARS-CoV-2 might have been created during research on a [HIV/AIDS vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_vaccine "HIV/AIDS vaccine").[\[173\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-173)[\[174\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-174) Bioinformatics analyses show that the common sequences are short, that their similarity is insufficient to support the hypothesis of common origin, and that the identified sequences were independent insertions which occurred at varied points during the evolution of coronaviruses.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-175)[\[176\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-176)
Further claims were promulgated by several [anti-vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-vaccine "Anti-vaccine") activists, such as [Judy Mikovits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Mikovits "Judy Mikovits") and [James Lyons-Weiler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lyons-Weiler "James Lyons-Weiler"), who claimed that SARS-CoV-2 was created in a laboratory,[\[177\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hao-2020-177) with Mikovits going further and stating that the virus was both deliberately engineered and deliberately released.[\[178\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-178)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) Weiler's analysis, where he argued that a long sequence in the middle of the spike protein of the virus was not found in other coronaviruses and was evidence for laboratory recombination, was dismissed by scientists, who found that the sequence in question was also found in many other coronaviruses, suggesting that it was "widely spread" in nature.[\[177\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hao-2020-177)
Chinese researcher [Li-Meng Yan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-Meng_Yan "Li-Meng Yan") was an early proponent of deliberate genetic engineering, releasing widely criticised [preprint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preprint "Preprint") papers in favor of the lab leak theory in the spring of 2020.[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Koyama-2020-179)[\[180\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Warmbrod-2020-180) After she released her preprints, political operatives (including [Steve Bannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon "Steve Bannon") and [Guo Wengui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guo_Wengui "Guo Wengui")) arranged for Yan to flee to the United States in the summer of 2020 to engage in a speaking tour on right-wing media outlets, as a method of distracting from the Trump administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-181) According to scientific reviewers from the [Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johns_Hopkins_Center_for_Health_Security "Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security"), Yan's paper offered "contradictory and inaccurate information that does not support their argument,"[\[180\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Warmbrod-2020-180) while reviewers from [MIT Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIT_Press "MIT Press")'s *[Rapid Reviews: COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Reviews:_COVID-19 "Rapid Reviews: COVID-19")* criticised her preprints as not demonstrating "sufficient scientific evidence to support \[their\] claims."[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Koyama-2020-179)
In September 2022, a panel assembled by *[The Lancet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lancet "The Lancet")* published a wide-ranging report on the pandemic, including commentary on the virus origin overseen by the group's chairman [Jeffrey Sachs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Sachs "Jeffrey Sachs"). This suggested that the virus may have originated from an American laboratory, a notion long-promoted by Sachs, including on the podcast of conspiracy theorist [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr. "Robert F. Kennedy Jr.") Reacting to this, virologist [Angela Rasmussen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Rasmussen "Angela Rasmussen") commented that this may have been "one of The Lancet's most shameful moments regarding its role as a steward and leader in communicating crucial findings about science and medicine".[\[182\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kilander-2022-182) Virologist [David Robertson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Robertson_\(virologist\) "David Robertson (virologist)") said the suggestion of US laboratory involvement was "wild speculation" and that "it's really disappointing to see such a potentially influential report contributing to further misinformation on such an important topic".[\[182\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kilander-2022-182)
### Deliberate release
Main article: [COVID-19 misinformation § Bio-weapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Bio-weapon "COVID-19 misinformation")
Historian of science [Naomi Oreskes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Oreskes "Naomi Oreskes") says that she does not know of any credible scientists who support the view that the virus was released deliberately, while the version proposing the virus may have escaped accidentally is more plausible.[\[183\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-183)
In the United States, Senator [Marsha Blackburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsha_Blackburn "Marsha Blackburn") proposed a bill that would allow people to lodge lawsuits against China for use of a "biological weapon", stating that "China has a 5,000-year history of cheating and stealing. Some things will never change".[\[184\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-184)
## Political, academic and media attention
### Media reports
The first media reports suggesting a SARS-CoV-2 lab leak appeared in the *[Daily Mail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail "Daily Mail")* and *[The Washington Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Times "The Washington Times")* in late January 2020.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021-28) In a January 31, 2020, interview with *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*, Professor Richard Ebright said there was a possibility that SARS-CoV-2 entered humans through a laboratory accident in Wuhan, and that all data on the genome sequence and properties of the virus were "consistent with entry into the human population as either a natural accident or a laboratory accident".[\[185\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-185) A February 5, 2021, report from *[Caixin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caixin "Caixin")* described these reports as rumors originating from two sources: a preprint paper by an Indian scholar posted to [bioRxiv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioRxiv "BioRxiv") that was later withdrawn, and a *[BBC China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_China "BBC China")* report.[\[186\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E7%8B%AC%E5%AE%B6|%E7%9F%B3%E6%AD%A3%E4%B8%BD%E5%9B%9E%E5%BA%94%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91_%E4%B8%93%E5%AE%B6%E4%B8%80%E8%87%B4%E8%AE%A4%E4%B8%BA%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E9%9D%9E%E4%BA%BA%E9%80%A0-186)[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E6%A8%A1%E7%B3%8A%E4%B8%8D%E6%B8%85%E7%9A%84%E9%9B%B6%E5%8F%B7%E7%97%85%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8E%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%9D%A5%E6%BA%90%E4%BA%89%E8%AE%AE-187) On February 8, 2023, the acting director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) testified before a Republican-led House committee that the viruses studied in the Wuhan lab "bear no relationship" to SARS-CoV-2 and that suggesting equivalency would be akin to "saying that a human is equivalent to a cow".[\[188\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-188)
In early 2021, the hypothesis returned to popular debate due to renewed media discussion.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189) The renewed interest was prompted by two events. First, an article published in May by *[The Wall Street Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journal "The Wall Street Journal")* reported that lab workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill with COVID-19-like symptoms in November 2019. The report was based on off-the-record briefings with intelligence officials.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)[\[190\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-190) The cases would precede official reports from the Chinese government stating the first known cases were in December 2019, although unpublished government data suggested the earliest cases were detected in mid-November.[\[191\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-191)[\[192\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-192) *The Guardian* stated that the *WSJ* article did little to confirm, in terms of good, quality evidence, the possibility of a lab leak;[\[193\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-193) a declassified report from the [National Intelligence Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Council "National Intelligence Council") likewise said that the fact the researchers were hospitalized was unrelated to the origins of the outbreak.[\[194\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-194) Second, it was shown that [Peter Daszak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Daszak "Peter Daszak"), the key organiser of the February 2020 statement in *The Lancet*, did not disclose connections to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34)[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)[\[195\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-195) An addendum was later published by *The Lancet*, in which Daszak listed his previous cooperation with Chinese researchers.[\[196\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-196)
After the publication of the WHO-convened report, politicians, talk show hosts, journalists, and some scientists advanced claims that SARS-CoV-2 may have come from the WIV.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40) DRASTIC also contributed to its promotion, particularly via [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter").[\[197\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-197) In July 2021, a [Harvard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard "Harvard")–*[Politico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politico "Politico")* survey indicated that 52 percent of Americans believed that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak, while 28 percent believed that COVID-19 originated from an infected animal in nature.[\[198\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-198) By March 2023, the percentage of Americans believing in lab origin had doubled (from 30% to 60%) since 3 years earlier, and the percentage of Americans believing in natural origins had halved (from 40% to 20%).[\[199\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-199)
Science educationalist Heslley Machado Silva describes the idea of a China-produced virus as part of "xenophobic social network crusade" akin to a far-fetched movie scenario, which has nevertheless garnered many millions of internet adherents. Silva raises a plea for the pandemic to be a time for humanity to become "better and not an opportunity to foment hatred".[\[200\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-200)
After May 2021, some media organizations softened previous language that described the laboratory leak theory as "debunked" or a "conspiracy theory".[\[201\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Stanage-2021-201) However, the prevailing scientific view remained that while an accidental leak was possible, it was highly unlikely.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Consensus-37)[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40)
A group of scientists called the "Paris group" in 2021 advocated for an inquiry into the role of scientific and medical journals which they claimed to have rebuffed dozens of articles about the possibility of the lab leak hypothesis.[\[202\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-c097-202) Some commentators such as science journalist [Jane Qiu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Qiu "Jane Qiu") and academic [Zeynep Tufekci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeynep_Tufekci "Zeynep Tufekci") have criticized the immediate framing of the lab leak theory as a conspiracy theory.[\[203\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-b760-203)[\[204\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-t702-204)
### China–US relations
See also: [Chinese government response to COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_government_response_to_COVID-19 "Chinese government response to COVID-19") and [COVID-19 misinformation by the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_by_the_United_States "COVID-19 misinformation by the United States")
The origin of COVID-19 became a source of friction in [China–United States relations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93United_States_relations "China–United States relations"). The lab leak theory was promulgated in early 2020 by United States politicians and media, particularly US president [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump"), other prominent Republicans, and conservative media (such as [Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News") pundit Tucker Carlson, and former *[Breitbart News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitbart_News "Breitbart News")* publisher and White House chief strategist [Steve Bannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon "Steve Bannon")).[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130) Trump had also referred to the virus as "kung flu",[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Chow-2021-205) and the administration also expressed the intention to sanction China.[\[206\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-206) In April 2020, Trump claimed to have evidence for the lab leak theory, but refused to produce it when requested.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)[\[207\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-207) At that time, the media did not distinguish between the accidental lab leak of a natural virus and [bio-weapon origin conspiracy theories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Bio-weapon "COVID-19 misinformation"). In online discussions, various theories – including the lab leak theory – were combined to form larger, baseless conspiracy plots.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)
In May 2020, Fox News host [Tucker Carlson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_Carlson "Tucker Carlson") accused [Anthony Fauci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Fauci "Anthony Fauci") of having "funded the creation of COVID" through gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133) Citing an essay by science writer [Nicholas Wade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Wade "Nicholas Wade"), Carlson alleged that Fauci had directed research to make bat viruses more infectious to humans.[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dapcevich-2021-156) [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") enacted a policy to remove discussion of the lab leak theory as misinformation; it lifted the ban a year later, in May 2021.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34)[\[208\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-208)[\[209\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-209)
A *BBC China* report stated that on February 14, Chinese president [Xi Jinping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping "Xi Jinping") proposed for biosafety to be incorporated into law; the following day, new measures were introduced to "strengthen the management of laboratories", especially those working with viruses.[\[186\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E7%8B%AC%E5%AE%B6|%E7%9F%B3%E6%AD%A3%E4%B8%BD%E5%9B%9E%E5%BA%94%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91_%E4%B8%93%E5%AE%B6%E4%B8%80%E8%87%B4%E8%AE%A4%E4%B8%BA%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E9%9D%9E%E4%BA%BA%E9%80%A0-186)[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E6%A8%A1%E7%B3%8A%E4%B8%8D%E6%B8%85%E7%9A%84%E9%9B%B6%E5%8F%B7%E7%97%85%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8E%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%9D%A5%E6%BA%90%E4%BA%89%E8%AE%AE-187) In April 2020, *The Guardian* reported that China had taken steps to tightly regulate domestic research into the source of the outbreak in an attempt to control the narrative surrounding its origins and encourage speculation that the virus started outside the country.[\[210\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-210) In May 2020, Chinese state media carried statements by scientists countering claims that the seafood market and Institute of Virology were possible origin sites, including comments by [George Gao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Gao "George F. Gao"), director of the [Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Center_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention "Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention").[\[211\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-211)
In the United States, anti-China misinformation spread on social media, including baseless bio-weapon claims, fueled aggressive rhetoric towards people of Asian ancestry,[\[212\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-212) and the bullying of scientists.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40) Some scientists were worried their words would be misconstrued and used to support racist rhetoric.[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Chow-2021-205) A [letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_to_the_editor "Letter to the editor") published in *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* by [Jesse Bloom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Bloom "Jesse Bloom") and others, outlined the uncertain origin of [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2") and proved an impetus for misinformation.[\[213\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-213)[\[214\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-214) The letter was criticized by virologists and public health experts, who said that a "hostile" and "divisive" focus on the WIV was unsupported by evidence, was impeding inquiries into legitimate concerns about China's pandemic response and transparency by combining them with speculative and meritless argument,[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26) and would cause Chinese scientists and authorities to share less rather than more data.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40)
Some members of the Chinese government have promoted a counter-conspiracy theory claiming that SARS‑CoV‑2 originated in the U.S. military installation at [Fort Detrick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Detrick "Fort Detrick").[\[215\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-215)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Buckley-2021-122) This theory has little support. Chinese demands to investigate U.S. laboratories are thought to be a distracting technique to push focus away from Wuhan.[\[216\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-216)
### Attacks on scientists
A consistent feature of all varieties of the lab leak theory is that they direct blame at scientists. Scientists are accused of engineering the virus or negligently allowing it to escape their laboratories, and then conspiring to cover-up their misdeeds.[\[217\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-217)
Two [Rutgers University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutgers_University "Rutgers University") faculty members – [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright") and Bryce Nickels – have been prominent social media posters advancing the lab leak position, and have continually attacked COVID-19 researchers, and compared them to [Nazis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi "Nazi") and [Pol Pot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot "Pol Pot"). In March 2024, twelve scientists made a formal complaint to Rutgers about Ebright and Nickels, saying they had posted messages to social media which risked their safety and which could be defamatory. Ebright reacted to the complaint saying it was "a crude effort to silence \[…\] opponents" and Nickels said the complaint contained "deliberate lies".[\[218\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-218)
### Negative societal effects
See also: [Lancet letter § Reception](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancet_letter#Reception "Lancet letter")
According to [Paul Thacker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Thacker "Paul Thacker") (writing for the *[British Medical Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Medical_Journal "British Medical Journal")*), some scientists and reporters said that "objective consideration of COVID-19's origins went awry early in the pandemic, as researchers who were funded to study viruses with pandemic potential launched a campaign labelling the lab leak hypothesis as a 'conspiracy theory.'"[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34) In February 2020, a letter was published in *[The Lancet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lancet "The Lancet")* authored by 27 scientists and spearheaded by Peter Daszak which described some alternate origin ideas as "conspiracy theories".[\[219\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-219) [Filippa Lentzos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippa_Lentzos "Filippa Lentzos") said some scientists "closed ranks" as a result, fearing for their careers and grants.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34) The letter was criticized by [Jamie Metzl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Metzl "Jamie Metzl") for "scientific propaganda and thuggery",[\[220\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-220) and by [Katherine Eban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Eban "Katherine Eban") as having had a "[chilling effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilling_effect "Chilling effect")" on scientific research and the scientific community by implying that scientists who "bring up the lab-leak theory ... are doing the work of conspiracy theorists".[\[221\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-221)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)
Early in 2020, scientists including [Jeremy Farrar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Farrar "Jeremy Farrar"), [Kristian G. Andersen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristian_G._Andersen "Kristian G. Andersen"), and [Robert F. Garry](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_F._Garry&action=edit&redlink=1 "Robert F. Garry (page does not exist)"), among others, sent emails to Anthony Fauci with questions regarding what Andersen referred to as "crackpot conspiracy theories" about a lab leak, and whether evidence supported them.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-222)[\[223\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-223) NIH director [Francis Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Collins "Francis Collins") was concerned at the time that discussion of the possibility could damage "international harmony".[\[224\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-224) After the discovery of similar viruses in nature, more research into the genome, and the availability of more genomic sequences from the early days of the pandemic, these scientists publicly stated they supported the zoonotic theory as the most likely explanation.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-225)[\[226\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-226)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[227\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-227)
Some journalists and scientists said they dismissed or avoided discussing the lab leak theory during the first year of the pandemic as a result of perceived polarization resulting from Donald Trump's embrace of the lab leak theory.[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Chow-2021-205)[\[201\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Stanage-2021-201)[\[228\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-228)[\[229\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-229) The chair of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology, [Arturo Casadevall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arturo_Casadevall "Arturo Casadevall"), said that, he (like many others) previously underestimated the lab leak hypothesis "mainly because the emphasis then \[early in the pandemic\] was on the idea of a deliberately engineered virus". However, by May 2021 it was a "long-simmering concern" in scientific circles, and that he perceived "greater openness" to it.[\[230\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-230)
By fall 2022, the scientific consensus was that the pandemic most likely began with a natural zoonosis.[\[231\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-231)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2022-17) The most likely natural reservoir is believed to reside in bats, with a possible intermediate host (such as [palm civets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_civet "Palm civet"),[\[232\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-232)[\[233\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2021-233) [minks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minks "Minks"),[\[234\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-234)[\[233\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2021-233) or [pangolins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolins "Pangolins")[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Singh-2021-66)[\[235\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-235)), before spillover into humans.[\[236\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-236)[\[237\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-237) In March 2023, James Alwine and colleagues argued that continuing to frame the lab leak hypothesis as being as likely as natural spillover was responsible for a misdirection of scientific effort, which could compromise progress towards preparing for future pandemics.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Alwine-2023-43)
In August 2024 the *[Lancet Microbe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancet_Microbe "Lancet Microbe")* published an editorial saying it is "simply wrong" to assert that SARS-CoV-2 is of unnatural origin, and ascribed continued interest in the unnatural origin idea to irresponsible journalism and political motivation. The editorial expressed concern that the furore around the virus's origins had a "chilling effect" on legitimate virology research and could jeopardise mankind's safety from pathogens in the future.[\[238\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-238)
### Government and intelligence agencies
Some intelligence agencies have assessed the possibility of a lab leak origin for SARS-CoV-2. Such assessments evaluate source credibility rather than conduct scientific research.[\[239\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-239)
In 2020, *[Der Spiegel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Spiegel "Der Spiegel")* reported that Germany’s Defence Ministry, in an internal memo, dismissed lab leak theories as a U.S. political distraction from pandemic policy failures.[\[240\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-:2-240) In 2025, German newspapers said that an unpublished 2020 [Federal Intelligence Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Intelligence_Service "Federal Intelligence Service") report estimated a 80–90% probability of a lab leak.[\[241\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-:1-241) In late 2024, the German government requested an external review of the unpublished report.[\[242\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-:3-242)
An August 2021 U.S. report, commissioned by [President Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_Biden "President Biden"), found no evidence of Chinese foreknowledge of the COVID-19 outbreak.[\[243\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-243) The inconclusive assessment included four agencies (and the [National Intelligence Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Council "National Intelligence Council")) favoring zoonotic origin with low confidence, three undecided, and the FBI supporting a lab leak with moderate confidence.[\[244\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-244)[\[245\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-245)[\[246\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-246) British intelligence deemed a lab leak "feasible".[\[247\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-247)
In February 2023, the [U.S. Department of Energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Department_of_Energy "U.S. Department of Energy") shifted to a "low confidence" lab leak assessment, indicating unreliable sources.[\[248\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-248)[\[249\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2023-249)[\[250\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-250)[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-251) FBI Director [Christopher Wray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_A._Wray "Christopher A. Wray") reiterated the bureau’s stance, accusing China of obstructing investigations.[\[252\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-252)[\[253\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-253) [National Security Advisor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Advisor_\(United_States\) "National Security Advisor (United States)") Jake Sullivan stated that there was "no definitive answer." to the pandemic origins' question.[\[249\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2023-249)[\[254\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-254)
A declassified June 2023 [Office of the Director of National Intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director_of_National_Intelligence "Director of National Intelligence") report found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in labs or biosafety incidents but could not rule out a leak. Most agencies (with low confidence) favored zoonotic origin.[\[255\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-255)[\[256\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-256)[\[257\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Merchant-2023-257) Lab leak proponents accused intelligence agencies of bias or incompetence.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SMH-2023-18) Science reporter Liam Mannix called it the end of the lab leak theory.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SMH-2023-18)[\[257\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Merchant-2023-257)
In 2025, the CIA stated the virus was "more likely" from a lab leak but with "low confidence".[\[258\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-258) On April 18, 2025, the [second Trump administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Trump_administration "Second Trump administration") removed the online hub for federal COVID-19 resources and redirected the domain to a whitehouse.gov page endorsing the lab leak theory.[\[259\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-259) Virologist Angela Rasmussen called the page "pure propaganda, intended to justify the systematic devastation of... programs devoted to public health and biomedical research".[\[260\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-260)
### Developments since 2022
In June 2022, the WHO released a report advocating for more investigation into the lab leak theory.[\[261\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-261) In response, Chinese [Foreign Ministry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China") spokesperson [Zhao Lijian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Lijian "Zhao Lijian") called the lab leak theory "a lie concocted by anti-China forces for political purposes, which has nothing to do with science".[\[262\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-262)
In July 2022, two articles appeared in the journal *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* analyzing all available epidemiological and genetic evidence from the earliest known cases in Wuhan.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WorobeyPekar-7) Based on two different analyses, the authors of both papers concluded that the outbreak began at the [Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Wholesale_Market "Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market") and was unconnected to any laboratory. A third paper (a [pre-print](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-print "Pre-print"))[\[263\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-263) examined RNA samples taken directly from the market in the spring of 2020 and detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental samples collected from animal stalls and sewage wells at the market.[\[264\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-264)[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) The RNA detected was highly similar to viruses which infected early outbreak patients who became sick after being present at the market.[\[265\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-265)[\[266\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-266) No virus was detected in any samples taken directly from animals at the market. [University of Sydney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Sydney "University of Sydney") virologist and co-author of both publications [Edward C. Holmes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_C._Holmes "Edward C. Holmes") commented that "The siren has definitely sounded on the lab leak theory" and "There's no emails. There's no evidence in any of the science. There's absolutely nothing".[\[267\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-267)
In 2026, virologist Joel Wertheim and colleagues at [UCSD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_San_Diego "University of California, San Diego") published a study in the journal *Cell* which compared evolutionary patterns of outbreaks of Ebola, influenza and other viruses.[\[268\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-t8102-268) They found that the mutation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 matched five naturally occurring outbreaks, but did not resemble the [1977 Russian flu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Russian_flu "1977 Russian flu") outbreak which was likely from a lab leak.[\[269\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-a697-269)[\[270\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-v822-270)
## References
1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-McDonald-2025_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-McDonald-2025_1-1)
McDonald J (May 23, 2025). ["Trump Administration Incorrectly Claims Certainty About Origin of Coronavirus"](https://www.factcheck.org/2025/05/trump-administration-incorrectly-claims-certainty-about-origin-of-coronavirus/). *FactCheck.org*. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Most_scientists_zoonosis_2-0)**
See:
- Pekar J (July 26, 2022). ["The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 960–966\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..960P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..960P). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abp8337](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abp8337). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9348752](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35881005](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35881005).
- Jiang X, Wang R (August 25, 2022). ["Wildlife trade is likely the source of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 925–926\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..925J](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..925J). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.add8384](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.add8384). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36007033](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36007033). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [251843410](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:251843410). Retrieved November 20, 2022. "Although the most probable reservoir animal for SARS-CoV-2 is Rhinolophus bats (2, 3), zoonotic spillovers likely involve an intermediate animal."
- Holmes EC, Goldstein SA, Rasmussen AL, Robertson DL, Crits-Christoph A, et al. (September 2021). ["The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). *Cell* (Review). **184** (19): 4848–4856\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.cell.2021.08.017](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cell.2021.08.017). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8373617](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34480864](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34480864). "As for the vast majority of human viruses, the most parsimonious explanation for the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic event...There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has a laboratory origin. There is no evidence that any early cases had any connection to the WIV, in contrast to the clear epidemiological links to animal markets in Wuhan, nor evidence that the WIV possessed or worked on a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 prior to the pandemic."
- Bolsen T, Palm R, Kingsland JT (October 2020). ["Framing the Origins of COVID-19"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7484600). *Science Communication*. **42** (5): 562–585\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1177/1075547020953603](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1075547020953603). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1075-5470](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1075-5470). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7484600](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7484600). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [38603006](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38603006). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [221614695](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:221614695). "Individuals may learn about the origins of COVID-19 through exposure to stories that communicate either what most scientists believe (i.e., zoonotic transmission) or through exposure to conspiratorial claims (e.g., the virus was created in a research laboratory in China)."
- Robertson L (March 2, 2023). ["Still No Determination on COVID-19 Origin"](https://www.factcheck.org/2023/03/scicheck-still-no-determination-on-covid-19-origin/). *FactCheck.org*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "most scientists suspect a zoonotic spillover in which the virus transferred from bats, or through an intermediate animal, to humans – the same way the SARS and MERS coronaviruses originated."
- Gajilan AC (September 19, 2021). ["Covid-19 origins: Why the search for the source is vital"](https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/19/health/covid-19-origins-documentary/index.html). CNN. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "The zoonotic hypothesis hinges on the idea that the virus spilled over from animals to humans, either directly through a bat, or through some other intermediary animal. Most scientists say that this is the likely origin, given that 75% of all emerging diseases have jumped from animals into humans."
- McDonald J (June 28, 2021). ["Where Did COVID-19 Start? The Facts and Mysteries of Its Origin"](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/fact-check-the-facts-and-gaps-on-the-origin-of-the-coronavirus/2668053/). *NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "The default answer for most scientists has been that the virus, SARS-CoV-2, probably made the jump to humans from bats, if it was a direct spillover – or, more likely, through one or more intermediate mammals."
- McKeever A (April 6, 2021). ["We still don't know the origins of the coronavirus. Here are 4 scenarios"](https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/we-still-dont-know-the-origins-of-the-coronavirus-here-are-4). *National Geographic*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "The most controversial hypothesis for the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is also the one that most scientists agree is the least likely: that the virus somehow leaked out of a laboratory in Wuhan where researchers study bat coronaviruses."
- Ball P. ["Three years on, Covid lab-leak theories aren't going away. This is why"](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/60415/three-years-on-covid-lab-leak-theories-arent-going-away.-this-is-why). *prospectmagazine.co.uk*. "The leading theory now backed by most scientists is that the virus arose in wild bats and found its way into animals (perhaps via a pangolin or a civet cat) sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan."
- Jackson C (September 21, 2020). ["Controversy Aside, Why the Source of COVID-19 Matters"](https://www.genengnews.com/insights/controversy-aside-why-the-source-of-covid-19-matters/). *GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "Most scientists studying the origins of COVID-19 have concluded that the SARS-CoV-2 virus probably evolved naturally and infected humans via incidental contact with a wild or domesticated animal."
- McCarthy S (September 16, 2021). ["Bat-human virus spillovers may be very common, study finds"](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3149026/its-only-matter-time-bat-human-virus-spillovers-may-be-very). *South China Morning Post*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "Questions have been raised about whether the virus could have leaked from a laboratory studying related viruses in Wuhan – a scenario most scientists...feel is less likely than a natural spillover."
- Danner C (May 26, 2021). ["Biden Joins the COVID Lab-Leak-Theory Debate"](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/05/latest-developments-in-the-covid-lab-leak-hypothesis-debate.html). *Intelligencer*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "There continues to be no evidence at all for the conspiracy theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was developed as some kind of bioweapon, and most scientists believe that the majority of available evidence indicates the virus jumped from animal to human."
3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-6)
Jiang X, Wang R (August 25, 2022). ["Wildlife trade is likely the source of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 925–926\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..925J](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..925J). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.add8384](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.add8384). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36007033](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36007033). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [251843410](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:251843410). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221109115622/https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384) from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
4. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-4)**
Zimmer C, Mueller B (February 26, 2022). ["New Research Points to Wuhan Market as Pandemic Origin"](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/26/science/covid-virus-wuhan-origins.html). *The New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230616143037/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/26/science/covid-virus-wuhan-origins.html) from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-5)**
Worobey M, Levy JI, Malpica Serrano L, Crits-Christoph A, Pekar JE, et al. (August 2022). ["The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348750). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 951–959\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..951W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..951W). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abp8715](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abp8715). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9348750](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348750). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35881010](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35881010).
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Pekar-2022_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Pekar-2022_6-1)
Pekar JE, Magee A, Parker E, Moshiri N, Izhikevich K, et al. (August 2022). ["The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 960–966\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..960P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..960P). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abp8337](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abp8337). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9348752](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35881005](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35881005).
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-WorobeyPekar_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-WorobeyPekar_7-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-WorobeyPekar_7-2)
There were two landmark origins studies published side-by-side in *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* in July 2022:[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-4)
- Worobey et al. "The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic"[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-5)
- Pekar et al. "The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2".[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Pekar-2022-6)
8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-8)**
Alkhovsky S, Lenshin S, Romashin A, Vishnevskaya T, Vyshemirsky O, Bulycheva Y, Lvov D, Gitelman A (January 9, 2022). ["SARS-like Coronaviruses in Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus spp.) in Russia, 2020"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8779456). *Viruses*. **14** (1): 113. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3390/v14010113](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fv14010113). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8779456](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8779456). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35062318](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35062318).
9. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-9)**
Frazzini S, Amadori M, Turin L, Riva F (October 7, 2022). ["SARS CoV-2 infections in animals, two years into the pandemic"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9543933). *Archives of Virology*. **167** (12): 2503–2517\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1007/s00705-022-05609-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00705-022-05609-1). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9543933](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9543933). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36207554](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36207554).
10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-10)**
Fenollar F, Mediannikov O, Maurin M, Devaux C, Colson P, Levasseur A, Fournier PE, Raoult D (April 1, 2021). ["Mink, SARS-CoV-2, and the Human-Animal Interface"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8047314). *Frontiers in Microbiology*. **12** 663815. Frontiers Media SA. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3389/fmicb.2021.663815](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffmicb.2021.663815). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1664-302X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1664-302X). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8047314](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8047314). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33868218](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33868218).
11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-11)**
Zhao J, Cui W, Tian Bp (2020). ["The Potential Intermediate Hosts for SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554366). *Frontiers in Microbiology*. **11** 580137. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3389/fmicb.2020.580137](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffmicb.2020.580137). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1664-302X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1664-302X). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7554366](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554366). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33101254](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33101254).
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Qiu X, Liu Y, Sha A (September 28, 2022). ["SARS-CoV-2 and natural infection in animals"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9538246). *Journal of Medical Virology*. **95** (1) jmv.28147. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1002/jmv.28147](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fjmv.28147). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9538246](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9538246). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36121159](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36121159).
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Gupta SK, Minocha R, Thapa PJ, Srivastava M, Dandekar T (August 14, 2022). ["Role of the Pangolin in Origin of SARS-CoV-2: An Evolutionary Perspective"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9408936). *International Journal of Molecular Sciences*. **23** (16): 9115. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3390/ijms23169115](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijms23169115). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9408936](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9408936). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36012377](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36012377).
14. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Intermediatehosts_14-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Intermediatehosts_14-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Intermediatehosts_14-2)
Suggestions for intermediate animal hosts between horseshoe bats (*Rhinolophus spp.*)[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-8) and humans have included:
- [Common raccoon dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raccoon_dog "Common raccoon dog") (*Nyctereutes procyonoides*)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)
- [American mink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_mink "American mink") (*Neogale vison*)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-9)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-10)
- [Sunda pangolin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin "Sunda pangolin") (*Manis javanica*)[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-11)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-13)
15. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-8)
Holmes EC, Goldstein SA, Rasmussen AL, Robertson DL, Crits-Christoph A, et al. (September 2021). ["The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). *Cell* (Review). **184** (19): 4848–4856\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.cell.2021.08.017](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cell.2021.08.017). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8373617](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34480864](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34480864). "No epidemic has been caused by the escape of a novel virus ... Under any laboratory escape scenario, SARS-CoV-2 would have to have been present in a laboratory prior to the pandemic, yet no evidence exists to support such a notion and no sequence has been identified that could have served as a precursor."
16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-6)
Gorski D (May 31, 2021). ["The origin of SARS-CoV-2, revisited"](https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-origin-of-sars-cov-2-revisited/). [Science-Based Medicine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science-Based_Medicine "Science-Based Medicine"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210601072923/https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-origin-of-sars-cov-2-revisited/) from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021. "The second \[version of the lab leak\] is the version that "reasonable" people consider plausible, but there is no good evidence for either version."
17. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2022_17-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2022_17-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2022_17-2)
Holmes EC (August 14, 2022). ["The COVID lab leak theory is dead. Here's how we know the virus came from a Wuhan market"](https://theconversation.com/the-covid-lab-leak-theory-is-dead-heres-how-we-know-the-virus-came-from-a-wuhan-market-188163). *The Conversation*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220904005528/https://theconversation.com/the-covid-lab-leak-theory-is-dead-heres-how-we-know-the-virus-came-from-a-wuhan-market-188163) from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022. "For the lab leak theory to be true, SARS-CoV-2 must have been present in the Wuhan Institute of Virology before the pandemic started. This would convince me. But the inconvenient truth is there's not a single piece of data suggesting this. There's no evidence for a genome sequence or isolate of a precursor virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Not from gene sequence databases, scientific publications, annual reports, student theses, social media, or emails. Even the intelligence community has found nothing. Nothing. And there was no reason to keep any work on a SARS-CoV-2 ancestor secret before the pandemic."
18. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-SMH-2023_18-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-SMH-2023_18-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-SMH-2023_18-2)
Mannix L (June 27, 2023). ["COVID-19 lab leak theory ends with a whimper, not a bang"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/covid-19-lab-leak-theory-ends-with-a-whimper-not-a-bang-20230627-p5djqb.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald "The Sydney Morning Herald")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230807022109/https://www.smh.com.au/national/covid-19-lab-leak-theory-ends-with-a-whimper-not-a-bang-20230627-p5djqb.html) from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
19. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-7)
Lewandowsky S, Jacobs PH, Neil S (2023). "Chapter 2: Leak or Leap? Evidence and Cognition Surrounding the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus". In Butter M, Knight P (eds.). *Covid Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective*. Taylor & Francis. pp. 26–39\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.4324/9781003330769](https://doi.org/10.4324%2F9781003330769). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-032-35943-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-032-35943-4 "Special:BookSources/978-1-032-35943-4")
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20. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-3)
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21. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2022_21-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2022_21-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2022_21-2)
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22. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021a_22-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021a_22-1)
Maxmen A, Mallapaty S (June 8, 2021). "The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don't know". *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **594** (7863): 313–315\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.594..313M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594..313M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-01529-3](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01529-3). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34108722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34108722). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235395594](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235395594).
23. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-3)
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24. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-4)
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Kessler G (May 25, 2021). ["Timeline: How the Wuhan lab-leak theory suddenly became credible"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/25/timeline-how-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-suddenly-became-credible/). *[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post "The Washington Post")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210725060238/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/25/timeline-how-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-suddenly-became-credible/) from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
29. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Bandeira-2021_29-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Bandeira-2021_29-1)
Bandeira L, Aleksejeva N, Knight T, Le Roux J. [*Weaponized: How Rumors About COVID-19's Origins Led To a Narrative Arms Race*](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Weaponized-How-rumors-about-COVID-19s-origins-led-to-a-narrative-arms-race.pdf) (PDF). The Atlantic Council. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220426002753/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Weaponized-How-rumors-about-COVID-19s-origins-led-to-a-narrative-arms-race.pdf) (PDF) from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
30. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-30)**
Wallace-Wells B (May 27, 2021). ["The Sudden Rise of the Coronavirus Lab-Leak Theory"](https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/the-sudden-rise-of-the-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory). *The New Yorker*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220218083352/https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/the-sudden-rise-of-the-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory) from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
31. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-31)**
Ruwitch J (March 31, 2021). ["Theory That COVID Came From A Chinese Lab Takes On New Life In Wake Of WHO Report"](https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983156340/theory-that-covid-came-from-a-chinese-lab-takes-on-new-life-in-wake-of-who-repor). NPR. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211202155833/https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983156340/theory-that-covid-came-from-a-chinese-lab-takes-on-new-life-in-wake-of-who-repor) from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
32. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-7)
Frutos R, Gavotte L, Devaux CA (March 2021). ["Understanding the origin of COVID-19 requires to change the paradigm on zoonotic emergence from the spillover to the circulation model"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). *[Infection, Genetics and Evolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infection,_Genetics_and_Evolution "Infection, Genetics and Evolution")*. **95** 104812. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021InfGE..9504812F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021InfGE..9504812F). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.meegid.2021.104812](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.meegid.2021.104812). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7969828](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33744401](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33744401). "The origin of SARS-Cov-2 is still passionately debated since it makes ground for geopolitical confrontations and conspiracy theories besides scientific ones...The marginal conspiracy theory of a voluntary released of an engineered virus forwarded by the press, blogs and politicians is not supported by any data."
33. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-33)**
["Covid origin: Why the Wuhan lab-leak theory is being taken seriously"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57268111). *BBC News*. May 27, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210630155548/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57268111) from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
34. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-4)
Thacker PD (July 8, 2021). ["The covid-19 lab leak hypothesis: Did the media fall victim to a misinformation campaign?"](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.n1656). *BMJ*. **374** n1656. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1136/bmj.n1656](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.n1656). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34244293](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34244293). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235760734](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235760734).
35. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Miller-2021_35-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Miller-2021_35-1)
Miller J, Nebehay S (March 31, 2021). ["Data withheld from WHO team probing COVID-19 origins in China: Tedros"](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-china-report-idUSKBN2BM26S). *[Reuters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters "Reuters")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210731031020/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-china-report-idUSKBN2BM26S) from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
36. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-36)**
Moritsugu K (July 22, 2021). ["China rebuffs WHO's terms for further COVID-19 origins study"](https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d). *[Associated Press News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press_News "Associated Press News")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210905222234/https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d) from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021. "Zeng ... added that speculation that staff and graduate students at the lab had been infected and might have started the spread of the virus in the city was untrue."
37. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Consensus_37-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Consensus_37-1)
See, for example, the following:
News sources describing this as a majority view:
- Maxmen A, Mallapaty S (June 8, 2021). "The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don't know". *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **594** (7863): 313–315\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.594..313M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594..313M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-01529-3](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01529-3). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34108722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34108722). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235395594](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235395594).
- ["The 'Occam's Razor Argument' Has Not Shifted in Favor of a Lab Leak"](https://www.snopes.com/news/2021/07/16/lab-leak-evidence/). *Snopes.com*. July 16, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210806232617/https://www.snopes.com/news/2021/07/16/lab-leak-evidence/) from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021. "Shi's team concluded that SARS-CoV-2 was 79% identical to SARS-CoV-1 and 96% identical to a virus her team had sampled from bats in a mineshaft in 2013. This information formed the basis of the widely accepted conclusion that SARS-CoV-2's ancestor was a bat virus."
- Ling J (June 15, 2021). ["The Lab Leak Theory Doesn't Hold Up"](https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/15/lab-leak-theory-doesnt-hold-up-covid-china/). *Foreign Policy*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210701220552/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/15/lab-leak-theory-doesnt-hold-up-covid-china/) from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021. "Over the past year, I've spoken with a slew of researchers, scientists, and public health experts: Their takes on the origins of COVID-19 generally fall into two camps. Most say that the virus is very likely natural and that theories around the Wuhan Institute of Virology are a possible explanation, but they're unlikely. The other group, a minority, says both theories are more or less equally valid and that the lab leak theory is in desperate need of more study."
- Sohn R (June 3, 2021). ["A Very Calm Guide to the Lab Leak Theory"](https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/lab-leak-theory-questions-explainer.html). *Slate*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210803165903/https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/lab-leak-theory-questions-explainer.html) from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021. "Most experts still tend to think the virus has a natural origin."
Academic review articles which describe this as the mainstream view:
- Adil MT, Rahman R, Whitelaw D, Jain V, Al-Taan O, Rashid F, Munasinghe A, Jambulingam P (February 2021). ["SARS-CoV-2 and the pandemic of COVID-19"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10016996). *Postgraduate Medical Journal*. **97** (1144): 110–116\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138386](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fpostgradmedj-2020-138386). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10016996](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10016996). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [32788312](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32788312). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [221124011](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:221124011). "the findings suggest that the laboratory incident hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain introduction of the virus into the human population"
- Barh D, Silva Andrade B, Tiwari S, Giovanetti M, Góes-Neto A, Alcantara LC, Azevedo V, Ghosh P (September 2020). "Natural selection versus creation: a review on the origin of SARS-COV-2". *Le Infezioni in Medicina* (in Italian). **28** (3): 302–311\. [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [32920565](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32920565). "Conspiracy theories about a possible accidental leak from either of these laboratories known to be experimenting with bats and bat CoVs that has shown some structural similarity to human SARS-CoV-2 has been suggested, but largely dismissed by most authorities."
- Graham RL, Baric RS (May 2020). ["SARS-CoV-2: Combating Coronavirus Emergence"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7207110). *Immunity*. **52** (5): 734–736\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.016](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.immuni.2020.04.016). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7207110](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7207110). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [32392464](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32392464). "the available data argue overwhelmingly against any scientific misconduct or negligence"
- Hakim MS (February 2021). ["SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19, and the debunking of conspiracy theories"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7995093). *Reviews in Medical Virology*. **31** (6) e2222. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1002/rmv.2222](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Frmv.2222). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7995093](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7995093). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33586302](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33586302). "Despite these massive online speculations, scientific evidence does not support this accusation of laboratory release theory..."
- Frutos R, Gavotte L, Devaux CA (March 2021). ["Understanding the origin of COVID-19 requires to change the paradigm on zoonotic emergence from the spillover to the circulation model"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). *Infection, Genetics and Evolution*. **95** 104812. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021InfGE..9504812F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021InfGE..9504812F). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.meegid.2021.104812](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.meegid.2021.104812). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7969828](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33744401](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33744401).
38. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Mallapaty-2021_38-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Mallapaty-2021_38-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Mallapaty-2021_38-2)
Mallapaty S (April 15, 2021). ["After the WHO report: what's next in the search for COVID's origins"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-00877-4). *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **592** (7854): 337–338\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.592..337M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.592..337M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-00877-4](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-00877-4). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33790440](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33790440). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [232481786](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:232481786).
39. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-39)**
Zimmer C, Gorman J, Mueller B (May 27, 2021). ["Scientists Don't Want to Ignore the 'Lab Leak' Theory, Despite No New Evidence"](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/health/wuhan-coronavirus-lab-leak.html). *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210601014408/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/health/wuhan-coronavirus-lab-leak.html) from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
40. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-5)
Maxmen A (June 3, 2021). ["Divisive COVID 'lab leak' debate prompts dire warnings from researchers"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01383-3). *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **594** (7861): 15–16\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.594...15M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594...15M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-01383-3](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01383-3). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34045757](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34045757). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235232290](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235232290).
41. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-41)**
Jacobsen R (May 13, 2021). ["Top researchers are calling for a real investigation into the origin of covid-19"](https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/13/1024866/investigation-covid-origin-wuhan-china-lab-biologists-letter/). *[MIT Technology Review](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIT_Technology_Review "MIT Technology Review")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210804084853/https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/13/1024866/investigation-covid-origin-wuhan-china-lab-biologists-letter/) from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021. "The lab leak hypothesis has already become highly political. In the US, it has been embraced most loudly by Republican lawmakers and conservative media figures... The resulting polarization has had a chilling effect on scientists, some of whom have been reluctant to express their own concerns, says Relman."
42. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-42)**
Maxmen A (February 27, 2022). ["Wuhan market was epicentre of pandemic's start, studies suggest"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-022-00584-8). *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **603** (7899): 15–16\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Natur.603...15M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Natur.603...15M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-022-00584-8](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-022-00584-8). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35228730](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35228730). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [247168739](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:247168739).
43. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Alwine-2023_43-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Alwine-2023_43-1)
Alwine JC, Casadevall A, Enquist LW, Goodrum FD, Imperiale MJ (March 2023). ["A critical analysis of the evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 origin hypotheses"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10117112). *mSphere*. **8** (2) e0036523. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1128/msphere.00119-23](https://doi.org/10.1128%2Fmsphere.00119-23). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10117112](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10117112). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36897078](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36897078). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [257429130](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:257429130).
44. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-n542_44-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-n542_44-1)
Yoo JH (2025). ["On the Controversies Surrounding the *Lab-Leak* Theory of COVID-19"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040609). *Journal of Korean Medical Science*. **40** (16) e153. XMLink. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3346/jkms.2025.40.e153](https://doi.org/10.3346%2Fjkms.2025.40.e153). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1011-8934](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1011-8934). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [12040609](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040609). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [40296830](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40296830). "Given the Chinese government's early actions—such as suppressing information, delaying disclosure of critical data, and silencing Chinese medical professionals—skepticism toward its transparency and credibility is not entirely unfounded. This lack of transparency severely hindered an objective investigation into the origin of the virus and fueled the spread of the lab-leak or intentional manipulation hypotheses."
45. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-c486_45-0)**
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## Further reading
- Kim JH, Park J (2023). ["Perceived China Threat, Conspiracy Belief, and Public Support for Restrictive Immigration Control During the COVID-19 Pandemic"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9561504). *Race and Justice*. **13** (1): 130–152\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1177/21533687221125818](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F21533687221125818). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9561504](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9561504).
- Komesaroff PA, Dwyer DE (September 2023). ["The Question of the Origins of COVID-19 and the Ends of Science"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10942872). *J Bioeth Inq*. **20** (4): 575–583\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1007/s11673-023-10303-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11673-023-10303-1). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10942872](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10942872). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [37697176](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37697176).
- Zhu AL, Chen R, Rizzolo J, Qian J (June 2023). ["Perceptions of COVID-19 origins and China's wildlife policy reforms"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10076075). *Glob Ecol Conserv*. **43** e02463. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2023GEcoC..4302463Z](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023GEcoC..4302463Z). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02463](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.gecco.2023.e02463). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10076075](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10076075). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [37069900](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37069900).
## External links
- [Declassified report from the National Intelligence Council](https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Declassified-Assessment-on-COVID-19-Origins.pdf) ([Executive summary](https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Unclassified-Summary-of-Assessment-on-COVID-19-Origins.pdf))
- [*The Origins of COVID-19: an investigation of the Wuhan Institute of Virology*](https://gop-foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ORIGINS-OF-COVID-19-REPORT.pdf) – report by [US House Foreign Affairs Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Foreign_Affairs "United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs") Minority Staff
- [World Health Organisation report on the origins of COVID-19](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-convened-global-study-of-origins-of-sars-cov-2-china-part)
### Articles
- Holmes, Eddie. [The COVID ‘lab leak theory’ is dead](https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/the-covid-lab-leak-theory-is-dead): Researchers have confirmed the virus came from a Wuhan wet market. August 15, 2022. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners website.
- Moore, John. [The coronavirus lab leak hypothesis is damaging science](https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/02/coronavirus-lab-leak-hypothesis-damages-science/), August 2, 2024, Statnews website.
- Qiu, Jane. [Meet the scientist at the center of the covid lab leak controversy](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/02/09/1044985/shi-zhengli-covid-lab-leak-wuhan/), February 9, 2022, MIT Technology Review. June 8, 2021
- Maxmen, Amy. [The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don’t know](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01529-3): Nature examines arguments that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a lab in China, and the science behind them. By Amy Maxmen & Smriti Mallapaty. June 8, 2021, Nature Magazine.
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic "Template:COVID-19 pandemic") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:COVID-19_pandemic "Template talk:COVID-19 pandemic") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:COVID-19_pandemic "Special:EditPage/Template:COVID-19 pandemic")[COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic") | |
|---|---|
| **[COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 "COVID-19")** (disease) **[SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2")** (virus) | |
| [Timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| | |
| [Pre-pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic_predictions_and_preparations_prior_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Pandemic predictions and preparations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Severe acute respiratory syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS "SARS") (SARS) [Middle East respiratory syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MERS "MERS") (MERS) [Crimson Contagion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_Contagion "Crimson Contagion") [Disease X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease_X "Disease X") [Exercise Cygnus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exercise_Cygnus "Exercise Cygnus") [2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_2019 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_2019 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019") |
| 2020 | [January](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_January_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_January_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020") [February](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_February_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_February_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020") [March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_March_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_March_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020") [April](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_April_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_April_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020") [May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_May_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_May_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020") [June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_June_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_June_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020") [July](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_July_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_July_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020") [August](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_August_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_August_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020") [September](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_September_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_September_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020") [October](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_October_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_October_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2020") [November](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_November_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_November_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020") [December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_December_2020 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_December_2020 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020") |
| 2021 | [January](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_January_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_January_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021") [February](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_February_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_February_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2021") [March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_March_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_March_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021") [April](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_April_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_April_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2021") [May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_May_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_May_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2021") [June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_June_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_June_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2021") [July](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_July_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_July_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2021") [August](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_August_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_August_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2021") [September](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_September_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_September_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2021") [October](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_October_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_October_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021") [November](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_November_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_November_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2021") [December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_December_2021 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2021") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_December_2021 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2021") |
| 2022 | [January](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_January_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_January_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2022") [February](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_February_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_February_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2022") [March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_March_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_March_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2022") [April](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_April_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_April_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2022") [May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_May_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_May_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2022") [June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_June_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_June_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2022") [July](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_July_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_July_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2022") [August](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_August_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_August_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2022") [September](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_September_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_September_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2022") [October](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_October_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2022") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_October_2022 "Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2022") [November](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_November_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2022") [December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_December_2022 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2022") |
| 2023 | [Timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_2023 "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023") |
| [Locations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_by_country_and_territory "COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory") | |
| | |
| [Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Africa "COVID-19 pandemic in Africa")([national responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Africa "National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa")) | |
| | |
| Northern | [Algeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Algeria "COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria") [Canary Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Canary_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Canary Islands") [Ceuta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ceuta "COVID-19 pandemic in Ceuta") [Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Egypt "COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt") [Libya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Libya "COVID-19 pandemic in Libya") [Mauritania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mauritania "COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritania") [Melilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Melilla "COVID-19 pandemic in Melilla") [Morocco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Morocco "COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco") [Sudan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sudan "COVID-19 pandemic in Sudan") [Tunisia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tunisia "COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia") [Western Sahara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Western_Sahara "COVID-19 pandemic in Western Sahara") [Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Sahrawi_Arab_Democratic_Republic "COVID-19 pandemic in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic") |
| Eastern | [Burundi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Burundi "COVID-19 pandemic in Burundi") [Comoros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Comoros "COVID-19 pandemic in the Comoros") [Djibouti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Djibouti "COVID-19 pandemic in Djibouti") [Eritrea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Eritrea "COVID-19 pandemic in Eritrea") [Ethiopia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ethiopia "COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia") [Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kenya "COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya") [Madagascar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Madagascar "COVID-19 pandemic in Madagascar") [Mauritius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mauritius "COVID-19 pandemic in Mauritius") [Mayotte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mayotte "COVID-19 pandemic in Mayotte") [Réunion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_R%C3%A9union "COVID-19 pandemic in Réunion") [Rwanda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Rwanda "COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda") [Seychelles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Seychelles "COVID-19 pandemic in Seychelles") [Somalia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Somalia "COVID-19 pandemic in Somalia") [Puntland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Puntland "COVID-19 pandemic in Puntland") [Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Somaliland "COVID-19 pandemic in Somaliland") [South Sudan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Sudan "COVID-19 pandemic in South Sudan") [Tanzania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tanzania "COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania") [Uganda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Uganda "COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda") |
| Southern | [Angola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Angola "COVID-19 pandemic in Angola") [Botswana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Botswana "COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana") [Eswatini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Eswatini "COVID-19 pandemic in Eswatini") [Lesotho](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Lesotho "COVID-19 pandemic in Lesotho") [Malawi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malawi "COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi") [Mozambique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mozambique "COVID-19 pandemic in Mozambique") [Namibia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Namibia "COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia") [South Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Africa "COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa") [list of deaths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_COVID-19_deaths_in_South_Africa "List of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa") [Zambia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Zambia "COVID-19 pandemic in Zambia") [Zimbabwe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Zimbabwe "COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe") |
| Central | [Cameroon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cameroon "COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon") [Central African Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Central_African_Republic "COVID-19 pandemic in the Central African Republic") [Chad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Chad "COVID-19 pandemic in Chad") [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo "COVID-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo") [Republic of the Congo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_the_Congo "COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of the Congo") [Gabon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Gabon "COVID-19 pandemic in Gabon") [São Tomé and Príncipe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe "COVID-19 pandemic in São Tomé and Príncipe") |
| Western | [Benin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Benin "COVID-19 pandemic in Benin") [Burkina Faso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Burkina_Faso "COVID-19 pandemic in Burkina Faso") [Cape Verde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cape_Verde "COVID-19 pandemic in Cape Verde") [Equatorial Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Equatorial_Guinea "COVID-19 pandemic in Equatorial Guinea") [Gambia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Gambia "COVID-19 pandemic in the Gambia") [Ghana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ghana "COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana") timeline 2020 [March–July](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ghana_\(March%E2%80%93July_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana (March–July 2020)") [August–December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ghana_\(August%E2%80%93December_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana (August–December 2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ghana_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana (2021)") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghanaian_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Ghanaian government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") impact [education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education_in_Ghana "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in Ghana") [Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guinea "COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea") [Guinea-Bissau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guinea-Bissau "COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea-Bissau") [Ivory Coast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ivory_Coast "COVID-19 pandemic in Ivory Coast") [Liberia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Liberia "COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia") [Mali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mali "COVID-19 pandemic in Mali") [Niger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Niger "COVID-19 pandemic in Niger") [Nigeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nigeria "COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Nigerian government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saint_Helena,_Ascension_and_Tristan_da_Cunha "COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha") [Senegal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Senegal "COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal") [Sierra Leone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sierra_Leone "COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone") [Togo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Togo "COVID-19 pandemic in Togo") |
| [Asia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Asia "COVID-19 pandemic in Asia") | |
| | |
| Central/North | [Kazakhstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kazakhstan "COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan") [Kyrgyzstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kyrgyzstan "COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan") [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia "COVID-19 pandemic in Russia") timeline [January–June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia_\(January%E2%80%93June_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia (January–June 2020)") [July–December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia_\(July%E2%80%93December_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia (July–December 2020)") impact [economic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia") [social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia") [political](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_politics_in_Russia "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Russia") [Tajikistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tajikistan "COVID-19 pandemic in Tajikistan") [Turkmenistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Turkmenistan "COVID-19 pandemic in Turkmenistan") [Uzbekistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Uzbekistan "COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan") |
| East | |
| | |
| [Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hong_Kong "COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong") [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Japan "COVID-19 pandemic in Japan") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Japan "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan") [Tokyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tokyo "COVID-19 pandemic in Tokyo") [2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_cases_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics_and_2020_Summer_Paralympics "COVID-19 cases at the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Paralympics") [North Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_North_Korea "COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea") [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Korea "COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea") [Macau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Macau "COVID-19 pandemic in Macau") [Mongolia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mongolia "COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia") [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Taiwan "COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan") [respirator diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respirator_diplomacy_of_Taiwan "Respirator diplomacy of Taiwan") | |
| [Mainland China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_mainland_China "COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China") | [lockdown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdown_in_China "COVID-19 lockdown in China") [detail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_lockdowns_in_mainland_China "Template:COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in mainland China") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_mainland_China "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_mainland_China "COVID-19 vaccination in mainland China") [Beijing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Beijing "COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing") [2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_cases_at_the_2022_Winter_Olympics_and_2022_Winter_Paralympics "COVID-19 cases at the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics") [Heilongjiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Heilongjiang "COVID-19 pandemic in Heilongjiang") [Henan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Henan "COVID-19 pandemic in Henan") [Hubei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hubei "COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei") [Inner Mongolia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Inner_Mongolia "COVID-19 pandemic in Inner Mongolia") [Liaoning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Liaoning "COVID-19 pandemic in Liaoning") [Shanghai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Shanghai "COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai") [2022 outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Shanghai_COVID-19_outbreak "2022 Shanghai COVID-19 outbreak") [Sichuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sichuan "COVID-19 pandemic in Sichuan") [Tibet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tibet "COVID-19 pandemic in Tibet") [Xinjiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Xinjiang "COVID-19 pandemic in Xinjiang") |
| [South](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Asia "COVID-19 pandemic in South Asia") | |
| | |
| [Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Afghanistan "COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan") [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bangladesh "COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bangladesh "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh") [Bhutan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bhutan "COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan") [Maldives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Maldives "COVID-19 pandemic in Maldives") [Nepal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nepal "COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal") [Pakistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Pakistan "COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan") [Tablighi Jamaat hotspot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Tablighi_Jamaat_COVID-19_hotspot_in_Pakistan "2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Pakistan") [Sri Lanka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sri_Lanka "COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka") | |
| [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_India "COVID-19 pandemic in India") | |
| | |
| [economic impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_India "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India") [lockdown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdown_in_India "COVID-19 lockdown in India") [migrant workers' crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_migrant_workers_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_India "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in India") timeline 2020 [January–May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_India_\(January%E2%80%93May_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in India (January–May 2020)") [June–December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_India_\(June%E2%80%93December_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in India (June–December 2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_India_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in India (2021)") [union government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Indian government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [PM CARES Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PM_CARES_Fund "PM CARES Fund") [state government responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_state_government_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Indian state government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_India "COVID-19 vaccination in India") [Vaccine Maitri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_Maitri "Vaccine Maitri") | |
| By location | [Andaman and Nicobar Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands") [Andhra Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Andhra_Pradesh "COVID-19 pandemic in Andhra Pradesh") [Arunachal Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Arunachal_Pradesh "COVID-19 pandemic in Arunachal Pradesh") [Assam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Assam "COVID-19 pandemic in Assam") [Bihar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bihar "COVID-19 pandemic in Bihar") [Chandigarh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Chandigarh "COVID-19 pandemic in Chandigarh") [Chhattisgarh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Chhattisgarh "COVID-19 pandemic in Chhattisgarh") [Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Dadra_and_Nagar_Haveli_and_Daman_and_Diu "COVID-19 pandemic in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu") [Delhi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Delhi "COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi") [Tablighi Jamaat hotspot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Tablighi_Jamaat_COVID-19_hotspot_in_Delhi "2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Delhi") [Goa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Goa "COVID-19 pandemic in Goa") [Gujarat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Gujarat "COVID-19 pandemic in Gujarat") [Haryana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Haryana "COVID-19 pandemic in Haryana") [Himachal Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Himachal_Pradesh "COVID-19 pandemic in Himachal Pradesh") [Jammu and Kashmir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jammu_and_Kashmir "COVID-19 pandemic in Jammu and Kashmir") [Jharkhand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jharkhand "COVID-19 pandemic in Jharkhand") [Karnataka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Karnataka "COVID-19 pandemic in Karnataka") [Kerala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kerala "COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kerala "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala") [Ladakh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ladakh "COVID-19 pandemic in Ladakh") [Lakshadweep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Lakshadweep "COVID-19 pandemic in Lakshadweep") [Madhya Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Madhya_Pradesh "COVID-19 pandemic in Madhya Pradesh") [Maharashtra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Maharashtra "COVID-19 pandemic in Maharashtra") [Manipur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Manipur "COVID-19 pandemic in Manipur") [Meghalaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Meghalaya "COVID-19 pandemic in Meghalaya") [Mizoram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mizoram "COVID-19 pandemic in Mizoram") [Nagaland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nagaland "COVID-19 pandemic in Nagaland") [Odisha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Odisha "COVID-19 pandemic in Odisha") [Puducherry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Puducherry "COVID-19 pandemic in Puducherry") [Punjab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Punjab,_India "COVID-19 pandemic in Punjab, India") [Rajasthan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Rajasthan "COVID-19 pandemic in Rajasthan") [Sikkim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sikkim "COVID-19 pandemic in Sikkim") [Tamil Nadu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tamil_Nadu "COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu") [Telangana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Telangana "COVID-19 pandemic in Telangana") [Tripura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tripura "COVID-19 pandemic in Tripura") [Uttar Pradesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Uttar_Pradesh "COVID-19 pandemic in Uttar Pradesh") [Uttarakhand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Uttarakhand "COVID-19 pandemic in Uttarakhand") [West Bengal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_West_Bengal "COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal") |
| [Southeast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Southeast_Asia "COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia") | |
| | |
| [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Brunei "COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei") [Cambodia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cambodia "COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia") [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Indonesia "COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia") timeline [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Indonesia_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia (2021)") [social restrictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia_large-scale_social_restrictions "Indonesia large-scale social restrictions") [Community Activities Restrictions Enforcement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Activities_Restrictions_Enforcement "Community Activities Restrictions Enforcement") [Laos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Laos "COVID-19 pandemic in Laos") [Myanmar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Myanmar "COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar") [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Singapore "COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Singapore_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Singapore_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Singapore_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore (2022)") [circuit breaker response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Singapore_circuit_breaker_measures "2020–21 Singapore circuit breaker measures") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Singapore "COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Singapore "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore") [Thailand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Thailand "COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Thailand "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Thailand "COVID-19 vaccination in Thailand") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Thailand "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand") [Timor-Leste](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Timor-Leste "COVID-19 pandemic in Timor-Leste") [Vietnam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Vietnam "COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Vietnam "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Vietnamese government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") | impact [social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") [economic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") [political](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_politics_in_Malaysia "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Malaysia") [Aid and relief efforts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aid_and_relief_efforts_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "Aid and relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") [movement control order](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_movement_control_order "Malaysian movement control order") [Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Tablighi_Jamaat_COVID-19_hotspot_in_Malaysia "2020 Tablighi Jamaat COVID-19 hotspot in Malaysia") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia (2022)") [2023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia_\(2023\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia (2023)") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") [Johor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Johor "COVID-19 pandemic in Johor") [Kuala Lumpur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kuala_Lumpur "COVID-19 pandemic in Kuala Lumpur") [Sabah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sabah "COVID-19 pandemic in Sabah") [Sarawak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sarawak "COVID-19 pandemic in Sarawak") [Selangor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Selangor "COVID-19 pandemic in Selangor") |
| [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Philippines "COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines") | timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Philippines_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Philippines_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Philippines_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines (2022)") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Philippine government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [community quarantines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_community_quarantines_in_the_Philippines "COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines") [Luzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_community_quarantine_in_Luzon "Enhanced community quarantine in Luzon") [evacuations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuations_by_the_Philippines_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Evacuations by the Philippines related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_Philippines "COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines") [Bangsamoro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bangsamoro "COVID-19 pandemic in Bangsamoro") [Bicol Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Bicol_Region "COVID-19 pandemic in the Bicol Region") [Cagayan Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cagayan_Valley "COVID-19 pandemic in Cagayan Valley") [Calabarzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Calabarzon "COVID-19 pandemic in Calabarzon") [Caraga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Caraga "COVID-19 pandemic in Caraga") [Central Luzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Central_Luzon "COVID-19 pandemic in Central Luzon") [Central Visayas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Central_Visayas "COVID-19 pandemic in Central Visayas") [Cordillera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Cordillera_Administrative_Region "COVID-19 pandemic in the Cordillera Administrative Region") [Davao Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Davao_Region "COVID-19 pandemic in the Davao Region") [Eastern Visayas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Eastern_Visayas "COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Visayas") [Ilocos Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Ilocos_Region "COVID-19 pandemic in the Ilocos Region") [Metro Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Metro_Manila "COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila") [Mimaropa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mimaropa "COVID-19 pandemic in Mimaropa") [Northern Mindanao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Mindanao "COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Mindanao") [Soccsksargen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Soccsksargen "COVID-19 pandemic in Soccsksargen") [Western Visayas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Western_Visayas "COVID-19 pandemic in Western Visayas") [Zamboanga Peninsula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Zamboanga_Peninsula "COVID-19 pandemic in Zamboanga Peninsula") [Overseas Filipinos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Filipinos_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Overseas Filipinos during the COVID-19 pandemic") |
| West | [Armenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Armenia "COVID-19 pandemic in Armenia") [Azerbaijan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Azerbaijan "COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan") [Artsakh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Artsakh "COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Artsakh") [Bahrain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bahrain "COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain") [Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cyprus "COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus") [Northern Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Cyprus "COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Cyprus") [Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Egypt "COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt") [Georgia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Georgia_\(country\) "COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (country)") [Abkhazia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Abkhazia "COVID-19 pandemic in Abkhazia") [South Ossetia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Ossetia "COVID-19 pandemic in South Ossetia") [Iran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Iran "COVID-19 pandemic in Iran") [Iraq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Iraq "COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq") [Kurdistan Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Kurdistan_Region "COVID-19 pandemic in the Kurdistan Region") [Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Israel "COVID-19 pandemic in Israel") [Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jordan "COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan") [Kuwait](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kuwait "COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait") [Lebanon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Lebanon "COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon") [Oman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Oman "COVID-19 pandemic in Oman") [Palestine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_State_of_Palestine "COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Palestine") [Qatar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Qatar "COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar") [Saudi Arabia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saudi_Arabia "COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_programme_in_Saudi_Arabia "COVID-19 vaccination programme in Saudi Arabia") [Syria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Syria "COVID-19 pandemic in Syria") [Turkey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Turkey "COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Turkey "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey") [United Arab Emirates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates "COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates") [Yemen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Yemen "COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen") |
| [Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Europe "COVID-19 pandemic in Europe") | |
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| [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom "COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom") | |
| | |
| [history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom "History of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom") timeline [January–June 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(January%E2%80%93June_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2020)") [July–December 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(July%E2%80%93December_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2020)") [January–June 2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(January%E2%80%93June_2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2021)") [July–December 2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(July%E2%80%93December_2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2021)") [January–June 2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(January%E2%80%93June_2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (January–June 2022)") [July–December 2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(July%E2%80%93December_2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (July–December 2022)") [2023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom_\(2023\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (2023)") [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "United Kingdom responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Broadshare "Operation Broadshare") [Operation Rescript](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Rescript "Operation Rescript") [contracts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_regarding_COVID-19_contracts_in_the_United_Kingdom "Controversies regarding COVID-19 contracts in the United Kingdom") impact [social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom") [economic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom") [education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education_in_the_United_Kingdom "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the United Kingdom") | |
| By location | [England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_England "COVID-19 pandemic in England") timeline 2020 [January–June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_England_\(January%E2%80%93June_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (January–June 2020)") [July–December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_England_\(July%E2%80%93December_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (July–December 2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_England_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_England_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in England (2022)") [London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_London "COVID-19 pandemic in London") [local lockdown regulations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_local_lockdown_regulations_in_England "COVID-19 local lockdown regulations in England") [first tier regulations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_COVID-19_tier_regulations_in_England "First COVID-19 tier regulations in England") [Northern Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Ireland "COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Ireland_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Ireland_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Ireland_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland (2022)") [Scotland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Scotland "COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Scotland_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Scotland_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Scotland_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland (2022)") [Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wales "COVID-19 pandemic in Wales") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wales_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wales_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wales_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales (2021)") [Crown Dependencies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Crown_Dependencies "COVID-19 pandemic in the Crown Dependencies") [Isle of Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Isle_of_Man "COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man") [Jersey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jersey "COVID-19 pandemic in Jersey") [Guernsey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guernsey "COVID-19 pandemic in Guernsey") [Overseas territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_British_Overseas_Territories "COVID-19 pandemic in the British Overseas Territories") [Akrotiri and Dhekelia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Akrotiri_and_Dhekelia "COVID-19 pandemic in Akrotiri and Dhekelia") [British Indian Ocean Territory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory "COVID-19 pandemic in the British Indian Ocean Territory") [Gibraltar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Gibraltar "COVID-19 pandemic in Gibraltar") |
| Eastern | [Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belarus "COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belarus_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belarus_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belarus_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus (2022)") [Kazakhstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kazakhstan "COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan") [Moldova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Moldova "COVID-19 pandemic in Moldova") [Gagauzia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Gagauzia "COVID-19 pandemic in Gagauzia") [Transnistria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Transnistria "COVID-19 pandemic in Transnistria") [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia "COVID-19 pandemic in Russia") timeline [January–June 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia_\(January%E2%80%93June_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia (January–June 2020)") [July–December 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia_\(July%E2%80%93December_2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia (July–December 2020)") [government responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Russian government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [political impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_politics_in_Russia "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Russia") [Turkey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Turkey "COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Turkey "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey") [Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ukraine "COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine") [Crimea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Crimea "COVID-19 pandemic in Crimea") [Sevastopol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sevastopol "COVID-19 pandemic in Sevastopol") |
| Western Balkans | [Albania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Albania "COVID-19 pandemic in Albania") [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina "COVID-19 pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina") [Kosovo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kosovo "COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo") [Montenegro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Montenegro "COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro") [North Macedonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_North_Macedonia "COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia") [Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Serbia "COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Serbia "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Serbia") |
| [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Austria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Austria "COVID-19 pandemic in Austria") [Belgium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belgium "COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium") [Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bulgaria "COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria") [Croatia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Croatia "COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Croatia "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia") [Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cyprus "COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus") [Northern Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Northern_Cyprus "COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Cyprus") [Czech Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Czech_Republic "COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic") [Denmark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Denmark "COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark") [Faroe Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Faroe_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Faroe Islands") [Estonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Estonia "COVID-19 pandemic in Estonia") [Finland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Finland "COVID-19 pandemic in Finland") [Åland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_%C3%85land "COVID-19 pandemic in Åland") [France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_France "COVID-19 pandemic in France") [Guadeloupe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guadeloupe "COVID-19 pandemic in Guadeloupe") [French Guiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_French_Guiana "COVID-19 pandemic in French Guiana") [Réunion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_R%C3%A9union "COVID-19 pandemic in Réunion") [Martinique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Martinique "COVID-19 pandemic in Martinique") [Mayotte](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mayotte "COVID-19 pandemic in Mayotte") [Normandy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Normandy "COVID-19 pandemic in Normandy") [Saint Martin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Collectivity_of_Saint_Martin "COVID-19 pandemic in the Collectivity of Saint Martin") [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Germany "COVID-19 pandemic in Germany") [North Rhine-Westphalia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_North_Rhine-Westphalia "COVID-19 pandemic in North Rhine-Westphalia") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "German government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Greece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Greece "COVID-19 pandemic in Greece") [Hungary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hungary "COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary") [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland (2022)") [economic impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland") [social impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "COVID-19 vaccination in the Republic of Ireland") [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Italy "COVID-19 pandemic in Italy") [lockdowns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns_in_Italy "COVID-19 lockdowns in Italy") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Italy "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy") [Latvia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Latvia "COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia") [Lithuania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Lithuania "COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania") [Luxembourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Luxembourg "COVID-19 pandemic in Luxembourg") [Malta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malta "COVID-19 pandemic in Malta") [Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Netherlands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Dutch government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Poland "COVID-19 pandemic in Poland") [Portugal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Portugal "COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal") [Romania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Romania "COVID-19 pandemic in Romania") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Romania "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania") [Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Slovakia "COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia") [Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Slovenia "COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia") [Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Spain "COVID-19 pandemic in Spain") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Spain "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain") [Asturias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Asturias "COVID-19 pandemic in Asturias") [Canary Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Canary_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Canary Islands") [Ceuta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ceuta "COVID-19 pandemic in Ceuta") [Community of Madrid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Community_of_Madrid "COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid") [Melilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Melilla "COVID-19 pandemic in Melilla") [Sweden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sweden "COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Swedish government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Operation Gloria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gloria "Operation Gloria") |
| EFTA countries | [Iceland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Iceland "COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland") [Liechtenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Liechtenstein "COVID-19 pandemic in Liechtenstein") [Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Norway "COVID-19 pandemic in Norway") [Svalbard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Svalbard "COVID-19 pandemic in Svalbard") [Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Switzerland "COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland") |
| Microstates | [Andorra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Andorra "COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra") [Monaco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Monaco "COVID-19 pandemic in Monaco") [San Marino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_San_Marino "COVID-19 pandemic in San Marino") [Vatican City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Vatican_City "COVID-19 pandemic in Vatican City") |
| [North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_North_America "COVID-19 pandemic in North America") | |
| | |
| Atlantic | [Bermuda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bermuda "COVID-19 pandemic in Bermuda") [Greenland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Greenland "COVID-19 pandemic in Greenland") [Saint Pierre and Miquelon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saint_Pierre_and_Miquelon "COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Pierre and Miquelon") |
| Canada | [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Canada "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada") [economic impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Canada "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada") [federal aid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_aid_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Canada "Federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Canada "COVID-19 vaccination in Canada") [military response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Laser "Operation Laser") [Atlantic Bubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Bubble "Atlantic Bubble") [Alberta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Alberta "COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Alberta "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta") [British Columbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_British_Columbia "COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia") [Manitoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Manitoba "COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba") [New Brunswick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Brunswick "COVID-19 pandemic in New Brunswick") [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Newfoundland_and_Labrador "COVID-19 pandemic in Newfoundland and Labrador") [Northwest Territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Northwest_Territories "COVID-19 pandemic in the Northwest Territories") [Nova Scotia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nova_Scotia "COVID-19 pandemic in Nova Scotia") [Nunavut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nunavut "COVID-19 pandemic in Nunavut") [Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ontario "COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ontario_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ontario_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ontario_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario (2022)") [Ottawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ottawa "COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa") [Peel Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Regional_Municipality_of_Peel "COVID-19 pandemic in the Regional Municipality of Peel") [Toronto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Toronto "COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto") [York Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Regional_Municipality_of_York "COVID-19 pandemic in the Regional Municipality of York") [Provincial government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincial_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ontario "Provincial government response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario") [Vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Ontario "COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario") [Prince Edward Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Prince_Edward_Island "COVID-19 pandemic in Prince Edward Island") [Quebec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Quebec "COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec") [Montreal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Montreal "COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal") [boroughs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boroughs_of_Montreal_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Boroughs of Montreal during the COVID-19 pandemic") [Saskatchewan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saskatchewan "COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saskatchewan "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan") [Yukon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Yukon "COVID-19 pandemic in Yukon") |
| Caribbean | |
| | |
| Countries | [Antigua and Barbuda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Antigua_and_Barbuda "COVID-19 pandemic in Antigua and Barbuda") [Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Bahamas "COVID-19 pandemic in the Bahamas") [Barbados](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Barbados "COVID-19 pandemic in Barbados") [Cuba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cuba "COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba") [Guantanamo Bay Naval Base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base "COVID-19 pandemic in the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base") [Dominica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Dominica "COVID-19 pandemic in Dominica") [Dominican Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Dominican_Republic "COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic") [Grenada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Grenada "COVID-19 pandemic in Grenada") [Haiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Haiti "COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti") [Jamaica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jamaica "COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica") [Saint Kitts and Nevis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saint_Kitts_and_Nevis "COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Kitts and Nevis") [Saint Lucia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saint_Lucia "COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Lucia") [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines "COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines") [Trinidad and Tobago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago "COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Trinidad_and_Tobago "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago") |
| [British Overseas Territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_British_Overseas_Territories "COVID-19 pandemic in the British Overseas Territories") | [Anguilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Anguilla "COVID-19 pandemic in Anguilla") [British Virgin Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_British_Virgin_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the British Virgin Islands") [Cayman Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Cayman_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Cayman Islands") [Montserrat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Montserrat "COVID-19 pandemic in Montserrat") [Turks and Caicos Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Turks_and_Caicos_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Turks and Caicos Islands") [response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Broadshare "Operation Broadshare") |
| | |
| [Aruba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Aruba "COVID-19 pandemic in Aruba") [Curaçao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cura%C3%A7ao "COVID-19 pandemic in Curaçao") [Sint Maarten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sint_Maarten "COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Maarten") | |
| Caribbean Netherlands | [Bonaire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bonaire "COVID-19 pandemic in Bonaire") [Saba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saba "COVID-19 pandemic in Saba") [Sint Eustatius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sint_Eustatius "COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Eustatius") |
| French West Indies | [Guadeloupe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guadeloupe "COVID-19 pandemic in Guadeloupe") [Martinique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Martinique "COVID-19 pandemic in Martinique") [Saint Barthélemy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Saint_Barth%C3%A9lemy "COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy") [Saint Martin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Collectivity_of_Saint_Martin "COVID-19 pandemic in the Collectivity of Saint Martin") |
| US insular areas | [Puerto Rico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Puerto_Rico "COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico") [U.S. Virgin Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Virgin Islands") |
| Central America | [Belize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belize "COVID-19 pandemic in Belize") [Costa Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Costa_Rica "COVID-19 pandemic in Costa Rica") [El Salvador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_El_Salvador "COVID-19 pandemic in El Salvador") [Guatemala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guatemala "COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala") [Honduras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Honduras "COVID-19 pandemic in Honduras") [Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mexico "COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mexico "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico") [vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Mexico "COVID-19 vaccination in Mexico") [Nicaragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nicaragua "COVID-19 pandemic in Nicaragua") [Panama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Panama "COVID-19 pandemic in Panama") |
| [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 pandemic in the United States") | |
| | |
| [Trump administration communication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_of_the_Trump_administration_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Communication of the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic") timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (2021)") [social impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States") [economic impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States") [2021 hospital crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_hospital_crisis_in_the_U.S._from_COVID-19 "2021 hospital crisis in the U.S. from COVID-19") | |
| [responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "United States responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") | [federal government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._federal_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [state and local governments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state_and_local_government_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") [California government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "California government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [New York government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_state_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "New York state government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Texas government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Texas government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Eastern States Multi-state Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_States_Multi-state_Council "Eastern States Multi-state Council") [Midwest Governors Regional Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_Governors_Regional_Pact "Midwest Governors Regional Pact") [Western States Pact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_States_Pact "Western States Pact") |
| By location | [Alabama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Alabama "COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama") [Alaska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Alaska "COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska") [American Samoa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_American_Samoa "COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa") [Arizona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Arizona "COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona") [Navajo Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Navajo_Nation "COVID-19 pandemic in the Navajo Nation") [Arkansas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Arkansas "COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas") [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_California "COVID-19 pandemic in California") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_California "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in California") [S.F. Bay Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_San_Francisco_Bay_Area "COVID-19 pandemic in the San Francisco Bay Area") [Colorado](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Colorado "COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado") [Connecticut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Connecticut "COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut") [Delaware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Delaware "COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware") [Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Florida "COVID-19 pandemic in Florida") [Georgia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Georgia_\(U.S._state\) "COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)") [Guam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guam "COVID-19 pandemic in Guam") [Hawaii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hawaii "COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii") [Idaho](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Idaho "COVID-19 pandemic in Idaho") [Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Illinois "COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois") [Indiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Indiana "COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana") [Iowa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Iowa "COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa") [Kansas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kansas "COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas") [Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kentucky "COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky") [Louisiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Louisiana "COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana") [Maine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Maine "COVID-19 pandemic in Maine") [Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Maryland "COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Maryland "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maryland") [Massachusetts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Massachusetts "COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Massachusetts "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts") [Boston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Boston "COVID-19 pandemic in Boston") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Boston "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Boston") [Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Michigan "COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan") [Minnesota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Minnesota "COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota") [Mississippi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Mississippi "COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi") [Missouri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Missouri "COVID-19 pandemic in Missouri") [Montana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Montana "COVID-19 pandemic in Montana") [Nebraska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nebraska "COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska") [Nevada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nevada "COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nevada "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada") [New Hampshire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Hampshire "COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire") [New Jersey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Jersey "COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey") [New Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Mexico "COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico") [New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_York_\(state\) "COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)") [New York City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_York_City "COVID-19 pandemic in New York City") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_York_City "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City") [North Carolina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_North_Carolina "COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina") [North Dakota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_North_Dakota "COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota") [Northern Mariana Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Mariana Islands") [Ohio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ohio "COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio") [Columbus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Columbus,_Ohio "COVID-19 pandemic in Columbus, Ohio") [Oklahoma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Oklahoma "COVID-19 pandemic in Oklahoma") [Oregon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Oregon "COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon") [Portland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Portland,_Oregon "COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon") [Pennsylvania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Pennsylvania "COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania") [Philadelphia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Philadelphia "COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia") [Puerto Rico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Puerto_Rico "COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico") [Rhode Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Rhode_Island "COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island") [South Carolina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Carolina "COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina") [South Dakota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Dakota "COVID-19 pandemic in South Dakota") [Tennessee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tennessee "COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee") [Texas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Texas "COVID-19 pandemic in Texas") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Texas "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas") [Austin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Austin,_Texas "COVID-19 pandemic in Austin, Texas") [U.S. Virgin Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Virgin Islands") [Utah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Utah "COVID-19 pandemic in Utah") [Vermont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Vermont "COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont") [Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Virginia "COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia") [Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Washington_\(state\) "COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)") [Washington, D.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Washington,_D.C. "COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.") [White House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_COVID-19_outbreak "White House COVID-19 outbreak") [West Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_West_Virginia "COVID-19 pandemic in West Virginia") [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wisconsin "COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin") [Wyoming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wyoming "COVID-19 pandemic in Wyoming") |
| [Oceania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Oceania "COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania") | |
| | |
| [American Samoa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_American_Samoa "COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa") [Cook Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Cook_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Cook Islands") [Easter Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Easter_Island "COVID-19 pandemic in Easter Island") [Federated States of Micronesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Federated_States_of_Micronesia "COVID-19 pandemic in the Federated States of Micronesia") [Fiji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Fiji "COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji") [French Polynesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_French_Polynesia "COVID-19 pandemic in French Polynesia") [Guam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guam "COVID-19 pandemic in Guam") [Hawaii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hawaii "COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii") [Kiribati](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Kiribati "COVID-19 pandemic in Kiribati") [Marshall Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Marshall_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Marshall Islands") [Nauru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Nauru "COVID-19 pandemic in Nauru") [New Caledonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Caledonia "COVID-19 pandemic in New Caledonia") [Niue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Niue "COVID-19 pandemic in Niue") [Northern Mariana Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Northern_Mariana_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Mariana Islands") [Palau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Palau "COVID-19 pandemic in Palau") [Papua New Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Papua_New_Guinea "COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea") [Bougainville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Autonomous_Region_of_Bougainville "COVID-19 pandemic in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville") [Pitcairn Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Pitcairn_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Pitcairn Islands") [Samoa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Samoa "COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa") [Solomon Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Solomon_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Solomon Islands") [Tokelau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tokelau "COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau") [Tonga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tonga "COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga") [Tuvalu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tuvalu "COVID-19 pandemic in Tuvalu") [Vanuatu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Vanuatu "COVID-19 pandemic in Vanuatu") [Wallis and Futuna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Wallis_and_Futuna "COVID-19 pandemic in Wallis and Futuna") | |
| [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Australia "COVID-19 pandemic in Australia") | timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Australia_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2020)") 2021 [January–June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Australia_\(January%E2%80%93June_2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (January–June 2021)") [July–December](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Australia_\(July%E2%80%93December_2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (July–December 2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Australia_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (2022)") [Australian Capital Territory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Australian_Capital_Territory "COVID-19 pandemic in the Australian Capital Territory") [Christmas Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Christmas_Island "COVID-19 pandemic in Christmas Island") [Cocos (Keeling) Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Cocos_\(Keeling\)_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands") [New South Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_South_Wales "COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales") [Norfolk Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Norfolk_Island "COVID-19 pandemic in Norfolk Island") [Northern Territory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Northern_Territory "COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Territory") [Queensland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Queensland "COVID-19 pandemic in Queensland") [South Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Australia "COVID-19 pandemic in South Australia") [Tasmania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tasmania "COVID-19 pandemic in Tasmania") [Victoria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Victoria "COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria") [Western Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Western_Australia "COVID-19 pandemic in Western Australia") |
| [New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand "COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand") | timeline [2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand_\(2020\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand (2020)") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand (2021)") [2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand_\(2022\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand (2022)") [2023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand_\(2023\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand (2023)") [economic impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand") [government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_government_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "New Zealand government response to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Alert levels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_alert_levels_in_New_Zealand "COVID-19 alert levels in New Zealand") [Traffic light system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Protection_Framework "COVID-19 Protection Framework") [social impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand") [managed isolation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_managed_isolation_in_New_Zealand "COVID-19 managed isolation in New Zealand") |
| [South America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_America "COVID-19 pandemic in South America") | [Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Argentina "COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Argentina "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina") [human rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_human_rights_in_Argentina "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights in Argentina") [Bolivia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Bolivia "COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia") [Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Brazil "COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Brazil "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil") [São Paulo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_S%C3%A3o_Paulo_\(state\) "COVID-19 pandemic in São Paulo (state)") [Chile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Chile "COVID-19 pandemic in Chile") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Chile "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile") [Easter Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Easter_Island "COVID-19 pandemic in Easter Island") [Colombia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Colombia "COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Colombia "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia") [Ecuador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ecuador "COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador") [Falkland Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Falkland_Islands "COVID-19 pandemic in the Falkland Islands") [French Guiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_French_Guiana "COVID-19 pandemic in French Guiana") [Guyana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guyana "COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana") [Paraguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Paraguay "COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay") [Peru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Peru "COVID-19 pandemic in Peru") [statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Peru "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru") [Cusco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Cusco "COVID-19 pandemic in Cusco") [Suriname](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Suriname "COVID-19 pandemic in Suriname") [Uruguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Uruguay "COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay") [Venezuela](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Venezuela "COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela") |
| Others | [Antarctica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Antarctica "COVID-19 pandemic in Antarctica") [Cruise ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_cruise_ships "COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships") [*Diamond Princess*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_Diamond_Princess "COVID-19 pandemic on Diamond Princess") [*Grand Princess*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_Grand_Princess "COVID-19 pandemic on Grand Princess") [Naval ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_naval_ships "COVID-19 pandemic on naval ships") [*Charles de Gaulle*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_Charles_de_Gaulle "COVID-19 pandemic on Charles de Gaulle") [USS *Theodore Roosevelt*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_on_USS_Theodore_Roosevelt "COVID-19 pandemic on USS Theodore Roosevelt") |
| [Impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| | |
| Culture and entertainment | |
| | |
| [Arts and cultural heritage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_arts_and_cultural_heritage "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage") | [References in popular culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_popular_culture "COVID-19 pandemic in popular culture") [Cinema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_cinema "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema") [films affected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_impacted_by_the_COVID-19_pandemic "List of films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic") [Corona-chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona-chan "Corona-chan") [Disney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_Walt_Disney_Company "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Walt Disney Company") [Fashion industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_fashion_industry "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fashion industry") [Music industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_music_industry "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music industry") [Performing arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_performing_arts "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performing arts") [Television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_television "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television") [U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_television_in_the_United_States "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States") [U.S. sports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_American_sports_broadcasting "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American sports broadcasting") [programs affected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_television_series_impacted_by_the_COVID-19_pandemic "List of American television series impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic") [Video games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_video_game_industry "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry") |
| [Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education") | |
| | |
| [Female education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_female_education "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female education") [Homeschooling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| By country | [Ghana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education_in_Ghana "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in Ghana") [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the Republic of Ireland") [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education_in_the_United_Kingdom "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the United Kingdom") [exam grading controversy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_Kingdom_school_exam_grading_controversy "2020 United Kingdom school exam grading controversy") [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_education_in_the_United_States "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the United States") |
| [Sports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_sports "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports") | |
| | |
| [Bio-secure bubble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bio-secure_bubble "Bio-secure bubble") | |
| By country | [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_sports_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports in the Republic of Ireland") [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_Philippine_sports "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Philippine sports") |
| By sport | [Association football](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_association_football "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football") [Baseball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_baseball "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on baseball") [Basketball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_basketball "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on basketball") [NBA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_the_2019%E2%80%9320_NBA_season "Suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season") [Combat sports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_combat_sports "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on combat sports") [Cricket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_cricket "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket") [Disc golf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_disc_golf "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disc golf") [Gaelic games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_Gaelic_games "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games") [Gridirion football (NCAAF, NFL, and CFL)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_gridiron_football "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gridiron football") [Ice hockey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_ice_hockey "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ice hockey") [Motorsport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_motorsport "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motorsport") [Rugby league](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_rugby_league "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rugby league") |
| Society and rights | |
| | |
| [Social impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Social media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_social_media "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social media") [Stigma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_stigma_associated_with_COVID-19 "Social stigma associated with COVID-19") [Children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_children "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children") [foster care in the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_foster_care_in_the_United_States "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foster care in the United States") [Pandemic baking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic_baking "Pandemic baking") |
| Labor | [Healthcare workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_healthcare_workers "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers") [Indian migrant workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_migrant_workers_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic") [Great Resignation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Resignation "Great Resignation") [Strikes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strikes_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Strikes during the COVID-19 pandemic") |
| [Human rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_issues_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Human rights issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_human_rights_in_Argentina "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights in Argentina") [Myanmar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Myanmar_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat "2021 Myanmar coup d'état") |
| Legal | [Abortion in the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_abortion_in_the_United_States "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abortion in the United States") [Crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_crime "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on crime") [Domestic violence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_domestic_violence "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence") [Prisons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_prisons "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prisons") [U.S. immigration detention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_U.S._immigration_detention "COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. immigration detention") |
| Minority | [Gender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendered_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") [LGBT community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_LGBT_community "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LGBT community") [African communities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_African_communities "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African communities") [Indian migrant workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_Indian_migrant_workers "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indian migrant workers") [Disability community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_people_with_disabilities "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities") [Native American communities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_Native_American_tribes_and_tribal_communities "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Native American tribes and tribal communities") [Xenophobia and racism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia_and_racism_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic") |
| [Religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_religion "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religion") | [Catholic Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_Catholic_Church "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Catholic Church") [Hajj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_Hajj "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hajj") |
| [Economic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| | |
| [Charitable activity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_activities_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Charitable activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [COVID-19 scams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_scams "COVID-19 scams") [Travel restrictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| By country | [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Canada "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada") [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_India "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India") [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland") [COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Pandemic_Unemployment_Payment "COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment") [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") [New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand") [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Russia "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia") [U.K.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom") [U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States") |
| By industry | [Aviation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_commercial_air_transport "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial air transport") [Airlines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_impacted_by_the_COVID-19_pandemic "List of airlines impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic") [Cannabis industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_cannabis_industry "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cannabis industry") [Food industry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_food_industry "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food industry") [meat industry in Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_meat_industry_in_Canada "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meat industry in Canada") [meat industry in the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_meat_industry_in_the_United_States "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meat industry in the United States") [restaurant industry in the U.S.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_restaurant_industry_in_the_United_States "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry in the United States") [Hospitals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_hospitals "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitals") [ICU capacity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_ICU_capacity "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ICU capacity") [Long-term care facilities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_long-term_care_facilities "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term care facilities") [Mink farming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_5 "Cluster 5") [Public transport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_public_transport "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transport") [Retail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_retail "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail") [Tourism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_tourism "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism") |
| Supply and trade | [Shortages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortages_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Chip supply](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932023_global_chip_shortage "2020–2023 global chip shortage") [Energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%932023_global_energy_crisis "2021–2023 global energy crisis") [Global supply chain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%932023_global_supply_chain_crisis "2021–2023 global supply chain crisis") [Oil price war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Russia%E2%80%93Saudi_Arabia_oil_price_war "2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war") [Food security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Food security during the COVID-19 pandemic") |
| [Financial markets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_market_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Financial market impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Global stock market crash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_stock_market_crash "2020 stock market crash") [COVID-19 recession](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_recession "COVID-19 recession") [Inflation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%932022_inflation_surge "2021–2022 inflation surge") |
| Information | |
| | |
| [Journalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_journalism "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalism") [Media coverage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_coverage_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic") [Wikipedia's response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_and_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Wikipedia and the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| [Misinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation "COVID-19 misinformation") | [Governments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_by_governments "COVID-19 misinformation by governments") [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_by_China "COVID-19 misinformation by China") [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_by_the_United_States "COVID-19 misinformation by the United States") By country [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_in_Canada "COVID-19 misinformation in Canada") [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_in_the_Philippines "COVID-19 misinformation in the Philippines") [Ivermectin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivermectin_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Ivermectin during the COVID-19 pandemic") *[Plandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plandemic "Plandemic")* |
| [Politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| | |
| [National responses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Legislation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_COVID-19_pandemic_legislation "List of COVID-19 pandemic legislation") [List of political officials who have tested positive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_officials_who_have_tested_positive_for_COVID-19 "List of political officials who have tested positive for COVID-19") [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_response_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic") | |
| [Political impact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_politics_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in the Republic of Ireland") [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_politics_in_Malaysia "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Malaysia") [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_politics_in_Russia "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics in Russia") |
| [Protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_against_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Protests against responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Abkhazia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Abkhazia_unrest "2021 Abkhazia unrest") [Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17A "17A") [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_Australia "COVID-19 protests in Australia") [Convoy to Canberra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy_to_Canberra "Convoy to Canberra") [Azerbaijan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Azerbaijani_protests "2020 Azerbaijani protests") [Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Belarusian_protests "2020–2021 Belarusian protests") [Belgium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Brussels_protests "2022 Brussels protests") [2020 protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Brazilian_protests "2020 Brazilian protests") [2021 protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Brazilian_protests "2021 Brazilian protests") [Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Bulgarian_protests "2020–2021 Bulgarian protests") [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_Canada "COVID-19 protests in Canada") [convoy protest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_convoy_protest "Canada convoy protest") [Chile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%932022_Chilean_protests "2019–2022 Chilean protests") [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_COVID-19_protests_in_China "2022 COVID-19 protests in China") [Beijing Sitong Bridge protest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Beijing_Sitong_Bridge_protest "2022 Beijing Sitong Bridge protest") [healthcare reform protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Chinese_healthcare_reform_protests "2023 Chinese healthcare reform protests") [2021 protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Colombian_protests "2021 Colombian protests") [2022 protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Colombian_protests "2022 Colombian protests") [Cuba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Cuban_protests "2021 Cuban protests") [Yellow vests protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_vests_protests "Yellow vests protests") [labor protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_French_labor_protests "2021 French labor protests") [French West Indies social unrest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%932022_social_unrest_in_the_French_West_Indies "2021–2022 social unrest in the French West Indies") [convoy protest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_convoy_protest "France convoy protest") [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_Germany "COVID-19 protests in Germany") [Idar-Oberstein shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Idar-Oberstein_shooting "2021 Idar-Oberstein shooting") [Greece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Greek_protests "2021 Greek protests") [Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_Israel "COVID-19 protests in Israel") [protests against Benjamin Netanyahu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_protests_against_Benjamin_Netanyahu "2020–2021 protests against Benjamin Netanyahu") [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_over_COVID-19_policies_in_Italy "Protests over COVID-19 policies in Italy") [Mongolia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Mongolian_protests "2021 Mongolian protests") [Netherlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_the_Netherlands "COVID-19 protests in the Netherlands") [curfew riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Dutch_curfew_riots "2021 Dutch curfew riots") [New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_New_Zealand "COVID-19 protests in New Zealand") [Wellington protest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Wellington_protest "2022 Wellington protest") [Paraguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Paraguayan_protests "2021 Paraguayan protests") [Serbia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932022_Serbian_protests "2020–2022 Serbian protests") [Tunisia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Tunisian_protests "2021 Tunisian protests") [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_the_United_Kingdom "COVID-19 protests in the United Kingdom") [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_protests_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 protests in the United States") [Open the States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_the_States "Open the States") |
| [International relations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_international_relations "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international relations") | [Aid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_aid_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_reactions_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Italy "International reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy") [Moldovan–Romanian collaboration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldovan%E2%80%93Romanian_collaboration_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Moldovan–Romanian collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic") [Respirator diplomacy of Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respirator_diplomacy_of_Taiwan "Respirator diplomacy of Taiwan") [Vaccine diplomacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_diplomacy "Vaccine diplomacy") |
| [Language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Glossary of the COVID-19 pandemic") | [Anthropause](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropause "Anthropause") [Doomscrolling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomscrolling "Doomscrolling") [Flattening the curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattening_the_curve "Flattening the curve") [Green recovery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_recovery "Green recovery") [Long COVID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_COVID "Long COVID") [Social distancing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_distancing "Social distancing") [Superspreader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superspreading_event "Superspreading event") [Twindemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twindemic "Twindemic") [Zero-COVID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-COVID "Zero-COVID") [Zoom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_\(software\) "Zoom (software)") [Zoom towns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_town "Zoom town") |
| Others | [Animals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_and_animals "COVID-19 pandemic and animals") [Cluster 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_5 "Cluster 5") [Environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_environment "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment") [Military](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_the_military "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the military") [Pregnant women](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_pregnant_women "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women") [Science and technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_science_and_technology "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on science and technology") |
| Health issues | |
| | |
| Medical topics | [Transmission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_of_COVID-19 "Transmission of COVID-19") [Symptoms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symptoms_of_COVID-19 "Symptoms of COVID-19") [Cancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_and_cancer "COVID-19 and cancer") [Endemic COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemic_COVID-19 "Endemic COVID-19") [Skin manifestations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutaneous_manifestations_of_COVID-19 "Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19") [Long COVID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_COVID "Long COVID") [Mental health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic") [neurological, psychological and other mental health outcomes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_neurological,_psychological_and_other_mental_health_outcomes "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurological, psychological and other mental health outcomes") [Pregnancy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_in_pregnancy "COVID-19 in pregnancy") [Non-COVID-19–related health issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_other_health_issues "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on other health issues") [Shortages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortages_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Rehabilitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehabilitation_after_COVID-19 "Rehabilitation after COVID-19") [Unproven medical methods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unproven_methods_against_COVID-19 "List of unproven methods against COVID-19") |
| Testing and epidemiology | |
| | |
| [Datasets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_datasets "COVID-19 datasets") [Death rates by country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_death_rates_by_country "COVID-19 pandemic death rates by country") [Disease testing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_testing "COVID-19 testing") [Breathalyzer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_breathalyzer "Coronavirus breathalyzer") [Operation Moonshot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Moonshot "Operation Moonshot") [Test to Release](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_to_Release "Test to Release") [UK Rapid Test Consortium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Rapid_Test_Consortium "UK Rapid Test Consortium") [AbC-19 rapid antibody test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AbC-19_rapid_antibody_test "AbC-19 rapid antibody test") [investigations into the origins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigations_into_the_origin_of_COVID-19 "Investigations into the origin of COVID-19") [lab leak theory]() [Rapid antigen test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_rapid_antigen_test "COVID-19 rapid antigen test") [Software](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_for_COVID-19_pandemic_mitigation "Software for COVID-19 pandemic mitigation") [Surveillance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_surveillance "COVID-19 surveillance") [Undercounting COVID-19 deaths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undercounting_of_COVID-19_pandemic_deaths_by_country "Undercounting of COVID-19 pandemic deaths by country") | |
| [Apps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_apps "COVID-19 apps") | [Aarogya Setu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarogya_Setu "Aarogya Setu") [BlueTrace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlueTrace "BlueTrace") [careFIJI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CareFIJI "CareFIJI") [Coronavirus Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_Australia "Coronavirus Australia") [Corona-Warn-App](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona-Warn-App "Corona-Warn-App") [COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Contact-Confirming_Application "COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application") [COVID Alert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID_Alert "COVID Alert") (Canada) [COVIDSafe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVIDSafe "COVIDSafe") [COVID Tracker Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID_Tracker_Ireland "COVID Tracker Ireland") [Covid Watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covid_Watch "Covid Watch") [Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decentralized_Privacy-Preserving_Proximity_Tracing "Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing") [Exposure Notification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_Notification "Exposure Notification") [Health Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Code "Health Code") [Healthy Together](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthy_Together "Healthy Together") [Immuni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immuni "Immuni") [Koronavilkku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koronavilkku "Koronavilkku") [LeaveHomeSafe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeaveHomeSafe "LeaveHomeSafe") [MySejahtera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySejahtera "MySejahtera") [NHS COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_COVID-19 "NHS COVID-19") [NZ COVID Tracer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZ_COVID_Tracer "NZ COVID Tracer") [NZ Pass Verifier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZ_Pass_Verifier "NZ Pass Verifier") [PathCheck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PathCheck "PathCheck") [PeduliLindungi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PeduliLindungi "PeduliLindungi") [SafeEntry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeEntry "SafeEntry") [SafePass](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafePass "SafePass") [StaySafe.ph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StaySafe.ph "StaySafe.ph") [SwissCovid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SwissCovid "SwissCovid") [TCN Protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCN_Protocol "TCN Protocol") [Test, Trace, Protect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test,_Trace,_Protect "Test, Trace, Protect") [Thai Chana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Chana "Thai Chana") [TousAntiCovid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TousAntiCovid "TousAntiCovid") [TraceTogether](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TraceTogether "TraceTogether") [Valtrace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valtrace "Valtrace") [Zoe Health Study](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoe_Health_Study "Zoe Health Study") |
| Prevention | [Air purifier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_purifier "Air purifier") ([Corsi–Rosenthal Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi%E2%80%93Rosenthal_Box "Corsi–Rosenthal Box")) [Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroquine_and_hydroxychloroquine_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine during the COVID-19 pandemic") [Evacuations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuations_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Evacuations related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Face masks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_masks_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic") [Anti-mask sentiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-mask_sentiment "Anti-mask sentiment") [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_masks_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States") [Flattening the curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattening_the_curve "Flattening the curve") [Great Barrington Declaration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrington_Declaration "Great Barrington Declaration") [International aid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_aid_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "International aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Lockdowns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns "COVID-19 lockdowns") [Public health mitigation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_mitigation_of_COVID-19 "Public health mitigation of COVID-19") [Safe Hands Challenge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_Hands_Challenge "Safe Hands Challenge") [Social distancing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_distancing_measures_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic") [Workplace hazard controls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_hazard_controls_for_COVID-19 "Workplace hazard controls for COVID-19") [Zero-COVID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-COVID "Zero-COVID") |
| [Vaccines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine "COVID-19 vaccine") | |
| | |
| Topics | [Authorizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_COVID-19_vaccine_authorizations "List of COVID-19 vaccine authorizations") [Clinical research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine_clinical_research "COVID-19 vaccine clinical research") [Deployment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deployment_of_COVID-19_vaccines "Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines") [Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_COVID-19_vaccine_development "History of COVID-19 vaccine development") [EU Certificate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU_Digital_COVID_Certificate "EU Digital COVID Certificate") [Misinformation and hesitancy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine_misinformation_and_hesitancy "COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and hesitancy") [Deaths of anti-vaccine advocates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_of_anti-vaccine_advocates_from_COVID-19 "Deaths of anti-vaccine advocates from COVID-19") [US](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine_hesitancy_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States") [Operation Warp Speed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Warp_Speed "Operation Warp Speed") (U.S.) [Post-vaccination complications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embolic_and_thrombotic_events_after_COVID-19_vaccination "Embolic and thrombotic events after COVID-19 vaccination") [Vaccine card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccine_card "COVID-19 vaccine card") [Vaccine passports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_passports_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic") |
| Authorized | |
| | |
| [DNA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_vaccine "DNA vaccine") | [ZyCoV-D](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZyCoV-D "ZyCoV-D") |
| [Inactivated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inactivated_vaccine "Inactivated vaccine") | [Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Academy_of_Medical_Sciences_COVID-19_vaccine "Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences COVID-19 vaccine") [CoronaVac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoronaVac "CoronaVac") [Covaxin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covaxin "Covaxin") [COVIran Barekat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVIran_Barekat "COVIran Barekat") [CoviVac (Russia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoviVac_\(Russia_COVID-19_vaccine\) "CoviVac (Russia COVID-19 vaccine)") [FAKHRAVAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAKHRAVAC "FAKHRAVAC") [Minhai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minhai_COVID-19_vaccine "Minhai COVID-19 vaccine") [QazCovid-in](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QazCovid-in "QazCovid-in") [Sinopharm BIBP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinopharm_BIBP_COVID-19_vaccine "Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine") [Sinopharm WIBP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinopharm_WIBP_COVID-19_vaccine "Sinopharm WIBP COVID-19 vaccine") [Turkovac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkovac "Turkovac") [Valneva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valneva_COVID-19_vaccine "Valneva COVID-19 vaccine") |
| [mRNA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA_vaccine "MRNA vaccine") | [Moderna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moderna_COVID-19_vaccine "Moderna COVID-19 vaccine") [Pfizer–BioNTech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfizer%E2%80%93BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine "Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine") |
| [Subunit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subunit_vaccine "Subunit vaccine") | [Abdala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdala_\(vaccine\) "Abdala (vaccine)") [Corbevax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbevax "Corbevax") (Bio E COVID-19) [COVAX-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVAX-19 "COVAX-19") [EpiVacCorona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EpiVacCorona "EpiVacCorona") [IndoVac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IndoVac "IndoVac") [MVC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MVC_COVID-19_vaccine "MVC COVID-19 vaccine") [Noora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noora_\(vaccine\) "Noora (vaccine)") [Novavax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novavax_COVID-19_vaccine "Novavax COVID-19 vaccine") [Razi Cov Pars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razi_Cov_Pars "Razi Cov Pars") [Sinopharm CNBG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinopharm_CNBG_COVID-19_vaccine "Sinopharm CNBG COVID-19 vaccine") [Soberana 02](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soberana_02 "Soberana 02") [Soberana Plus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soberana_Plus "Soberana Plus") [ZF2001](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF2001 "ZF2001") (Zifivax) |
| [Viral vector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_vector_vaccine "Viral vector vaccine") | [Convidecia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convidecia "Convidecia") [Janssen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janssen_COVID-19_vaccine "Janssen COVID-19 vaccine") [Oxford–AstraZeneca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford%E2%80%93AstraZeneca_COVID-19_vaccine "Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine") [Sputnik V](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_V_COVID-19_vaccine "Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine") [Sputnik Light](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_Light "Sputnik Light") |
| [Virus-like particles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus-like_particle "Virus-like particle") | [CoVLP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoVLP "CoVLP") |
| In trials | |
| | |
| [Attenuated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenuated_vaccine "Attenuated vaccine") | [COVI-VAC (United States)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVI-VAC_\(U.S._COVID-19_vaccine\) "COVI-VAC (U.S. COVID-19 vaccine)") |
| DNA | [AG0302-COVID‑19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AG0302-COVID%E2%80%9119 "AG0302-COVID‑19") [GX-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GX-19 "GX-19") [Inovio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inovio_COVID-19_vaccine "Inovio COVID-19 vaccine") |
| Inactivated | [KD-414](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KD-414 "KD-414") [NDV-HXP-S](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDV-HXP-S "NDV-HXP-S") |
| RNA | [ARCT-021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARCT-021 "ARCT-021") [ARCT-154](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARCT-154 "ARCT-154") [Bangavax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangavax "Bangavax") [CureVac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CureVac_COVID-19_vaccine "CureVac COVID-19 vaccine") (terminated) [HGC019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HGC019 "HGC019") [mRNA-1283](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MRNA-1283 "MRNA-1283") [PTX-COVID19-B](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PTX-COVID19-B "PTX-COVID19-B") [Sanofi–Translate Bio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanofi%E2%80%93Translate_Bio_COVID-19_vaccine "Sanofi–Translate Bio COVID-19 vaccine") (terminated) [Stemirna COVID-19 vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stemirna_COVID-19_vaccine "Stemirna COVID-19 vaccine") [Walvax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walvax_COVID-19_vaccine "Walvax COVID-19 vaccine") |
| Subunit | [202-CoV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/202-CoV "202-CoV") [AKS-452](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AKS-452 "AKS-452") [EuCorVac-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuCorVac-19 "EuCorVac-19") [IVX-411](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVX-411 "IVX-411") [Nanocovax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanocovax "Nanocovax") [ReCOV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReCOV "ReCOV") [Sanofi–GSK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanofi%E2%80%93GSK_COVID-19_vaccine "Sanofi–GSK COVID-19 vaccine") [S-268019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-268019 "S-268019") [SCB-2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCB-2019 "SCB-2019") [SCTV01C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCTV01C "SCTV01C") [Skycovione](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skycovione "Skycovione") [UB-612](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UB-612 "UB-612") [V-01](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-01 "V-01") [V451](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V451_vaccine "V451 vaccine") (terminated) [Vabiotech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vabiotech_COVID-19_vaccine "Vabiotech COVID-19 vaccine") [West China Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_China_Hospital_COVID-19_vaccine "West China Hospital COVID-19 vaccine") [Zhongyianke Biotech–Liaoning Maokangyuan Biotech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF2001 "ZF2001") |
| Viral vector | [AdCLD-CoV19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdCLD-CoV19 "AdCLD-CoV19") [BriLife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BriLife "BriLife") [COH04S1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COH04S1 "COH04S1") [DelNS1-2019-nCoV-RBD-OPT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DelNS1-2019-nCoV-RBD-OPT "DelNS1-2019-nCoV-RBD-OPT") [GRAd-COV2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRAd-COV2 "GRAd-COV2") [ImmunityBio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImmunityBio_COVID-19_vaccine "ImmunityBio COVID-19 vaccine") [iNCOVACC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INCOVACC "INCOVACC") [INNA-051](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INNA-051 "INNA-051") [NDV-HXP-S](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDV-HXP-S "NDV-HXP-S") [Vaxart COVID-19 vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaxart_COVID-19_vaccine "Vaxart COVID-19 vaccine") |
| [Virus-like particles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus-like_particle "Virus-like particle") | [ABNCoV2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABNCoV2 "ABNCoV2") [LYB001](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LYB001 "LYB001") [MigVax-101](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MigVax-101 "MigVax-101") [VBI-2902](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VBI-2902 "VBI-2902") |
| [Deployment by location](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deployment_of_COVID-19_vaccines "Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines") | |
| | |
| [Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Africa "COVID-19 vaccination in Africa") | [Algeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Algeria "COVID-19 vaccination in Algeria") [Angola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Angola "COVID-19 vaccination in Angola") [Botswana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Botswana "COVID-19 vaccination in Botswana") [Burkina Faso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Burkina_Faso "COVID-19 vaccination in Burkina Faso") [Burundi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Burundi "COVID-19 vaccination in Burundi") [Cameroon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Cameroon "COVID-19 vaccination in Cameroon") [Cape Verde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Cape_Verde "COVID-19 vaccination in Cape Verde") [Cameroon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Cameroon "COVID-19 vaccination in Cameroon") [Chad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Chad "COVID-19 vaccination in Chad") [Comoros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_Comoros "COVID-19 vaccination in the Comoros") [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo "COVID-19 vaccination in the Democratic Republic of the Congo") [Djibouti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Djibouti "COVID-19 vaccination in Djibouti") [Egypt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Egypt "COVID-19 vaccination in Egypt") [Equatorial Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Equatorial_Guinea "COVID-19 vaccination in Equatorial Guinea") [Eswatini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Eswatini "COVID-19 vaccination in Eswatini") [Ghana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Ghana "COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana") [Morocco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Morocco "COVID-19 vaccination in Morocco") [Nigeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Nigeria "COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria") [Senegal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Senegal "COVID-19 vaccination in Senegal") [South Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_South_Africa "COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa") [Zimbabwe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Zimbabwe "COVID-19 vaccination in Zimbabwe") |
| Asia | [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Bangladesh "COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh") [Bhutan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Bhutan "COVID-19 vaccination in Bhutan") [Mainland China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_mainland_China "COVID-19 vaccination in mainland China") [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_India "COVID-19 vaccination in India") [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Indonesia "COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia") [Iran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Iran "COVID-19 vaccination in Iran") [Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Israel "COVID-19 vaccination in Israel") [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Japan "COVID-19 vaccination in Japan") [Kazakhstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Kazakhstan "COVID-19 vaccination in Kazakhstan") [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Malaysia "COVID-19 vaccination in Malaysia") [Nepal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Nepal "COVID-19 vaccination in Nepal") [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_Philippines "COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines") [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Russia "COVID-19 vaccination in Russia") [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Singapore "COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore") [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_South_Korea "COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea") [Sri Lanka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Sri_Lanka "COVID-19 vaccination in Sri Lanka") [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Taiwan "COVID-19 vaccination in Taiwan") [Thailand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Thailand "COVID-19 vaccination in Thailand") [Turkey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Turkey "COVID-19 vaccination in Turkey") [United Arab Emirates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates "COVID-19 vaccination in the United Arab Emirates") [Vietnam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Vietnam "COVID-19 vaccination in Vietnam") |
| Europe | [Albania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Albania "COVID-19 vaccination in Albania") [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina "COVID-19 vaccination in Bosnia and Herzegovina") [Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Bulgaria "COVID-19 vaccination in Bulgaria") [Croatia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Croatia "COVID-19 vaccination in Croatia") [Denmark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Denmark "COVID-19 vaccination in Denmark") [France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_France "COVID-19 vaccination in France") [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Germany "COVID-19 vaccination in Germany") [Greece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Greece "COVID-19 vaccination in Greece") [Hungary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Hungary "COVID-19 vaccination in Hungary") [Iceland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Iceland "COVID-19 vaccination in Iceland") [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland "COVID-19 vaccination in the Republic of Ireland") [Italy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Italy "COVID-19 vaccination in Italy") [Moldova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Moldova "COVID-19 vaccination in Moldova") [Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Norway "COVID-19 vaccination in Norway") [Portugal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Portugal "COVID-19 vaccination in Portugal") [Romania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Romania "COVID-19 vaccination in Romania") [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Russia "COVID-19 vaccination in Russia") [Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Spain "COVID-19 vaccination in Spain") [Sweden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Sweden "COVID-19 vaccination in Sweden") [Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Switzerland "COVID-19 vaccination in Switzerland") [Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Ukraine "COVID-19 vaccination in Ukraine") [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_United_Kingdom "COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom") |
| North America | [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Canada "COVID-19 vaccination in Canada") [Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Ontario "COVID-19 vaccination in Ontario") [Quebec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Quebec "COVID-19 vaccination in Quebec") [Haiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Haiti "COVID-19 vaccination in Haiti") [Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Mexico "COVID-19 vaccination in Mexico") [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 vaccination in the United States") [mandates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_mandates_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 vaccination mandates in the United States") |
| Oceania | [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Australia "COVID-19 vaccination in Australia") [Fiji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Fiji "COVID-19 vaccination in Fiji") [New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_New_Zealand "COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand") |
| South America | [Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Argentina "COVID-19 vaccination in Argentina") [Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Brazil "COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil") [Colombia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Colombia "COVID-19 vaccination in Colombia") [Peru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_Peru "COVID-19 vaccination in Peru") |
| Others | |
| [Treatment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment_and_management_of_COVID-19 "Treatment and management of COVID-19") | |
| | |
| [Drug development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_drug_development "COVID-19 drug development") [Drug repurposing research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_drug_repurposing_research "COVID-19 drug repurposing research") [Baricitinib](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baricitinib "Baricitinib") [PANORAMIC trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PANORAMIC_trial "PANORAMIC trial") (UK) [RECOVERY Trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RECOVERY_Trial "RECOVERY Trial") (UK) [Solidarity trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidarity_trial "Solidarity trial") (WHO) | |
| [Monoclonal antibodies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoclonal_antibody "Monoclonal antibody") | [Bamlanivimab/etesevimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamlanivimab/etesevimab "Bamlanivimab/etesevimab") [Bamlanivimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamlanivimab "Bamlanivimab") Etesevimab [Bebtelovimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebtelovimab "Bebtelovimab") [Casirivimab/imdevimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casirivimab/imdevimab "Casirivimab/imdevimab") [Regdanvimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regdanvimab "Regdanvimab") [Sarilumab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarilumab "Sarilumab") [Sotrovimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotrovimab "Sotrovimab") [Tixagevimab/cilgavimab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tixagevimab/cilgavimab "Tixagevimab/cilgavimab") [Tocilizumab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocilizumab "Tocilizumab") |
| [Small molecule antivirals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiviral_drug "Antiviral drug") | [Broad-spectrum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-spectrum_antiviral_drug "Broad-spectrum antiviral drug") [Ensitrelvir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensitrelvir "Ensitrelvir") [Molnupiravir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molnupiravir "Molnupiravir") Co-packaged [Nirmatrelvir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirmatrelvir "Nirmatrelvir") [ritonavir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir "Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir") |
| [Variants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variants_of_SARS-CoV-2 "Variants of SARS-CoV-2") | |
| | |
| Specific | [Alpha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Alpha_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant") [Beta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Beta_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant") [Gamma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Gamma_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant") [Delta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Delta_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant") [Epsilon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Epsilon_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Epsilon variant") [Zeta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Zeta_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Zeta variant") [Eta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Eta_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Eta variant") [Theta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Theta_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Theta variant") [Iota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Iota_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Iota variant") [Kappa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Kappa_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Kappa variant") [Lambda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Lambda_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant") [Mu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Mu_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant") [Omicron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_Omicron_variant "SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant") [timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_SARS-CoV-2_Omicron_variant "Timeline of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant") |
| General | [Cluster 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_5 "Cluster 5") [Lineage B.1.617](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_lineage_B.1.617 "SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.617") [Variant of concern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2_variant_of_concern "SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern") |
| Institutions | |
| | |
| Hospitals and medical clinics | |
| | |
| Mainland China | [Central Hospital of Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Hospital_of_Wuhan "Central Hospital of Wuhan") [Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabie_Mountain_Regional_Medical_Centre "Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre") [Fangcang hospitals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangcang_hospital "Fangcang hospital") [Huoshenshan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huoshenshan_Hospital "Huoshenshan Hospital") [Leishenshan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leishenshan_Hospital "Leishenshan Hospital") [Xinjia Express Hotel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_Xinjia_Express_Hotel "Collapse of Xinjia Express Hotel") [Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Jinyintan_Hospital "Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital") |
| Others | [Hospital ships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_ships_designated_for_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Hospital ships designated for the COVID-19 pandemic") [Garran Surge Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garran_Surge_Centre "Garran Surge Centre") (Australia) [Hospital El Salvador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_El_Salvador "Hospital El Salvador") [Kemayoran Athletes Village](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemayoran_Athletes_Village "Kemayoran Athletes Village") (Indonesia) [Pyongyang General Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyongyang_General_Hospital "Pyongyang General Hospital") (North Korea) [Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Agro_Exposition_Park_Serdang "Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang") (Malaysia) [Mega Ligtas COVID Centers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Ligtas_COVID_Centers "Mega Ligtas COVID Centers") (Philippines) [Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandakadu_Treatment_and_Rehabilitation_Centre "Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre") (Sri Lanka) [Sancaktepe Prof. Dr. Feriha Öz Emergency Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sancaktepe_Prof._Dr._Feriha_%C3%96z_Emergency_Hospital "Sancaktepe Prof. Dr. Feriha Öz Emergency Hospital") (Turkey) [Yeşilköy Prof. Dr. Murat Dilmener Emergency Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye%C5%9Filk%C3%B6y_Prof._Dr._Murat_Dilmener_Emergency_Hospital "Yeşilköy Prof. Dr. Murat Dilmener Emergency Hospital") (Turkey) [COVID-19 hospitals in the United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_hospitals_in_the_United_Kingdom "COVID-19 hospitals in the United Kingdom") [Birmingham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_Nightingale_Hospital_Birmingham "NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham") [London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_Nightingale_Hospital_London "NHS Nightingale Hospital London") [North East](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_Nightingale_Hospital_North_East "NHS Nightingale Hospital North East") [North West](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_Nightingale_Hospital_North_West "NHS Nightingale Hospital North West") [Yorkshire and the Humber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_Nightingale_Hospital_Yorkshire_and_the_Humber "NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber") [NHS Louisa Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHS_Louisa_Jordan "NHS Louisa Jordan") (Scotland) [Dragon's Heart Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_Heart_Hospital "Dragon's Heart Hospital") (Wales) |
| Organizations | |
| | |
| [National Cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cabinet_\(Australia\) "National Cabinet (Australia)") (Australia) [ScienceUpFirst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScienceUpFirst "ScienceUpFirst") (Canada) [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") (China) [Independent SAGE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_SAGE "Independent SAGE") (United Kingdom) | |
| Health institutes | [Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Centres_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention "Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention") (African Union) [Ghana Infectious Disease Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana_Infectious_Disease_Centre "Ghana Infectious Disease Centre") (Ghana) [Department of Health (Hong Kong)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Health_\(Hong_Kong\) "Department of Health (Hong Kong)") [Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_Disease_Control_and_Prevention_Agency "Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency") (South Korea) [National Institute for Communicable Diseases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_for_Communicable_Diseases "National Institute for Communicable Diseases") (South Africa) [Taiwan Centers for Disease Control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Centers_for_Disease_Control "Taiwan Centers for Disease Control") (Taiwan) |
| Pandemic institutes | [National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_COVID-19_Commission_Advisory_Board "National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board") (Australia) [COVID-19 Immunity Task Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Immunity_Task_Force "COVID-19 Immunity Task Force") (Canada) [COVID-19 Supply Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Supply_Council "COVID-19 Supply Council") (Canada) [PREPARE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PREPARE "PREPARE") (European Union) [National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Expert_Group_on_Vaccine_Administration_for_COVID-19 "National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19") (India) [COVID-19 Response Acceleration Task Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Response_Acceleration_Task_Force "COVID-19 Response Acceleration Task Force") (Indonesia) [National Public Health Emergency Team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Health_Emergency_Team_\(2020\) "National Public Health Emergency Team (2020)") (Ireland) [Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novel_Coronavirus_Expert_Meeting "Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting") (Japan) [Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_Preparedness_and_Response_Centre "Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre") (Malaysia) [Defeat COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defeat_COVID-19_Ad_Hoc_Committee "Defeat COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee") (Philippines) [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Agency_Task_Force_for_the_Management_of_Emerging_Infectious_Diseases "Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases") (Philippines) [Central Epidemic Command Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Epidemic_Command_Center "Central Epidemic Command Center") (Taiwan) [Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_Scientific_Advisory_Board "Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board") (Turkey) [COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Genomics_UK_Consortium "COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium") (United Kingdom) [Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_College_COVID-19_Response_Team "Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team") (United Kingdom) [Joint Biosecurity Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Biosecurity_Centre "Joint Biosecurity Centre") (United Kingdom) [Vaccine Taskforce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_Taskforce "Vaccine Taskforce") (United Kingdom) [COVID-19 Advisory Board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_Advisory_Board "COVID-19 Advisory Board") (United States) [Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_American_Economic_Revival_Industry_Groups "Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups") (United States) [White House Coronavirus Task Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Coronavirus_Task_Force "White House Coronavirus Task Force") (United States) [White House COVID-19 Response Team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_COVID-19_Response_Team "White House COVID-19 Response Team") (United States) [GACH](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GACH "GACH") (Uruguay) |
| Relief funds | [PM CARES Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PM_CARES_Fund "PM CARES Fund") (India) [Artist Relief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_Relief "Artist Relief") (United States) |
| People | |
| | |
| Medical professionals | [Ai Fen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Fen "Ai Fen") [Corona Rintawan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_Rintawan "Corona Rintawan") [Li Wenliang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Wenliang "Li Wenliang") [Liu Wen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Wen_\(doctor\) "Liu Wen (doctor)") [Xie Linka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xie_Linka "Xie Linka") [Zhang Wenhong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Wenhong "Zhang Wenhong") |
| [Researchers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Coronavirus_researchers "Category:Coronavirus researchers") | [Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awang_Bulgiba_Awang_Mahmud "Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud") [Roberto Burioni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Burioni "Roberto Burioni") [Chen Wei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Wei_\(medical_scientist\) "Chen Wei (medical scientist)") [Kizzmekia Corbett](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kizzmekia_Corbett "Kizzmekia Corbett") [Andrea Crisanti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Crisanti_\(scientist\) "Andrea Crisanti (scientist)") [Peter Daszak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Daszak "Peter Daszak") [Christian Drosten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Drosten "Christian Drosten") [Neil Ferguson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Ferguson_\(epidemiologist\) "Neil Ferguson (epidemiologist)") [Dale Fisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Fisher "Dale Fisher") [George F. Gao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Gao "George F. Gao") [Azra Ghani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azra_Ghani "Azra Ghani") [Sarah Gilbert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Gilbert "Sarah Gilbert") [Guan Yi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guan_Yi "Guan Yi") [Kentaro Iwata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentaro_Iwata "Kentaro Iwata") [Katalin Karikó](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katalin_Karik%C3%B3 "Katalin Karikó") [Matt Keeling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Keeling "Matt Keeling") [Trudie Lang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trudie_Lang "Trudie Lang") [Li Lanjuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Lanjuan "Li Lanjuan") [W. Ian Lipkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Ian_Lipkin "W. Ian Lipkin") [Ma Xiaowei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Xiaowei "Ma Xiaowei") [Shabir Madhi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabir_Madhi "Shabir Madhi") [Allison McGeer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_McGeer "Allison McGeer") [Camilla Rothe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camilla_Rothe "Camilla Rothe") [Shi Zhengli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Zhengli "Shi Zhengli") [Moncef Slaoui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncef_Slaoui "Moncef Slaoui") [Mike Tildesley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tildesley "Mike Tildesley") [John Todd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Todd_\(British_biologist\) "John Todd (British biologist)") [Wang Chen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Chen_\(physician\) "Wang Chen (physician)") [Wang Guangfa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Guangfa "Wang Guangfa") [Drew Weissman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Weissman "Drew Weissman") [Yuen Kwok-yung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuen_Kwok-yung "Yuen Kwok-yung") [Zeng Guang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeng_Guang "Zeng Guang") [Zhang Jixian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Jixian "Zhang Jixian") [Zhang Yongzhen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Yongzhen "Zhang Yongzhen") [Zhong Nanshan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhong_Nanshan "Zhong Nanshan") |
| Officials | |
| | |
| WHO | [Tedros Adhanom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tedros_Adhanom_Ghebreyesus "Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus") (Director-General of the WHO) [Bruce Aylward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Aylward "Bruce Aylward") (Team lead of WHO-China COVID-19 mission) [Maria Van Kerkhove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Van_Kerkhove "Maria Van Kerkhove") (Technical Lead for COVID-19 response) [Michael J. Ryan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Ryan_\(doctor\) "Michael J. Ryan (doctor)") (Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme) |
| By location | [Frank Atherton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Atherton "Frank Atherton") (Wales) [Ashley Bloomfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Bloomfield "Ashley Bloomfield") (New Zealand) [Catherine Calderwood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Calderwood "Catherine Calderwood") (Scotland) [Chang Shan-chwen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang_Shan-chwen "Chang Shan-chwen") (Taiwan) [Anutin Charnvirakul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anutin_Charnvirakul "Anutin Charnvirakul") (Thailand) [Chen Shih-chung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Shih-chung "Chen Shih-chung") (Taiwan) [Kenneth Chuang Yin-ching](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuang_Yin-ching "Chuang Yin-ching") (Taiwan) [Victor Costache](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Costache "Victor Costache") (Romania) [Fabrizio Curcio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabrizio_Curcio "Fabrizio Curcio") (Italy) [Carmen Deseda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Deseda "Carmen Deseda") (Puerto Rico) [Jaap van Dissel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaap_van_Dissel "Jaap van Dissel") (the Netherlands) [Christian Drosten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Drosten "Christian Drosten") (Germany) [Francisco Duque III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Duque_III "Francisco Duque III") (Philippines) [Anthony Fauci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Fauci "Anthony Fauci") (United States) [Francesco Paolo Figliuolo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Paolo_Figliuolo "Francesco Paolo Figliuolo") (Italy) [Graça Freitas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gra%C3%A7a_Freitas "Graça Freitas") (Portugal) [Henrique Gouveia e Melo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrique_Gouveia_e_Melo "Henrique Gouveia e Melo") (Portugal) [Matt Hancock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Hancock "Matt Hancock") (United Kingdom) [Hamad Hasan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_Hasan "Hamad Hasan") (Lebanon) [Greg Hunt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Hunt "Greg Hunt") (Australia) [Tony Holohan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Holohan "Tony Holohan") (Ireland) [Jeong Eun-kyeong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeong_Eun-kyeong "Jeong Eun-kyeong") (South Korea) [Fahrettin Koca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrettin_Koca "Fahrettin Koca") (Turkey) [Li Keqiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Keqiang "Li Keqiang") (China) [Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_L%C3%B3pez-Gatell_Ram%C3%ADrez "Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez") (Mexico) [Michael McBride](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McBride_\(doctor\) "Michael McBride (doctor)") (Northern Ireland) [Oriol Mitjà](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriol_Mitj%C3%A0 "Oriol Mitjà") (Andorra) [Zweli Mkhize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweli_Mkhize "Zweli Mkhize") (South Africa) [Doni Monardo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doni_Monardo "Doni Monardo") (Indonesia) [Alma Möller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_M%C3%B6ller "Alma Möller") (Iceland) [Saeed Namaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeed_Namaki "Saeed Namaki") (Iran) [Ala Nemerenco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ala_Nemerenco "Ala Nemerenco") (Moldova) [Nguyễn Thanh Long](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_Thanh_Long "Nguyễn Thanh Long") (Vietnam) [Noor Hisham Abdullah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noor_Hisham_Abdullah "Noor Hisham Abdullah") (Malaysia) [Ali Pilli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Pilli "Ali Pilli") (Northern Cyprus) [Daniel Salinas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Salinas "Daniel Salinas") (Uruguay) [Jérôme Salomon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Salomon "Jérôme Salomon") (France) [Fernando Simón](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Sim%C3%B3n "Fernando Simón") (Spain) [Gregor Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_Smith "Gregor Smith") (Scotland) [Su Ih-jen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Ih-jen "Su Ih-jen") (Taiwan) [Łukasz Szumowski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%81ukasz_Szumowski "Łukasz Szumowski") (Poland) [Theresa Tam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_Tam "Theresa Tam") (Canada) [Anders Tegnell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Tegnell "Anders Tegnell") (Sweden) [Þórólfur Guðnason](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9E%C3%B3r%C3%B3lfur_Gu%C3%B0nason "Þórólfur Guðnason") (Iceland) [Sotiris Tsiodras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotiris_Tsiodras "Sotiris Tsiodras") (Greece) [Harsh Vardhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harsh_Vardhan_\(Delhi_politician\) "Harsh Vardhan (Delhi politician)") (India) [Víðir Reynisson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%AD%C3%B0ir_Reynisson "Víðir Reynisson") (Iceland) [Carla Vizzotti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Vizzotti "Carla Vizzotti") (Argentina) [Vlad Voiculescu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_Voiculescu "Vlad Voiculescu") (Romania) [Chris Whitty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Whitty "Chris Whitty") (United Kingdom) [Lawrence Wong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Wong "Lawrence Wong") (Singapore) [Jeff Zients](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Zients "Jeff Zients") (United States) |
| Others | [Chen Qiushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Qiushi "Chen Qiushi") [Brett Crozier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Crozier "Brett Crozier") [Fang Bin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fang_Bin "Fang Bin") [Fang Fang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fang_Fang "Fang Fang") [Joseph Ashitey Hammond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Ashitey_Hammond "Joseph Ashitey Hammond") [Li Zehua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zehua "Li Zehua") [Captain Tom Moore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Tom_Moore "Captain Tom Moore") [Qiu Menghuang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiu_Menghuang "Qiu Menghuang") [Ren Zhiqiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_Zhiqiang "Ren Zhiqiang") |
| [List of deaths due to COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deaths_due_to_COVID-19 "List of deaths due to COVID-19") | |
| Data (templates) | |
| | |
| Global | WHO situation reports [cases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_cases "COVID-19 pandemic cases") [deaths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_deaths "COVID-19 pandemic deaths") [World map by countries: confirmed per capita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic") |
| Asia | [Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Afghanistan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Afghanistan medical cases chart") [Armenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Armenia_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Armenia medical cases chart") [Artsakh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Republic_of_Artsakh_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Republic of Artsakh medical cases chart") [Azerbaijan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Azerbaijan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Azerbaijan medical cases chart") [Bahrain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Bahrain_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Bahrain medical cases chart") [Bangladesh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Bangladesh_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Bangladesh medical cases chart") [by division](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Bangladesh_medical_cases_by_division "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Bangladesh medical cases by division") [Bhutan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Bhutan_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Bhutan medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Bhutan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Bhutan medical cases chart") [Brunei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Brunei_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Brunei medical cases chart") [Cambodia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Cambodia_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Cambodia medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Cambodia_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Cambodia medical cases chart") [summary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Cambodia_medical_cases_summary "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Cambodia medical cases summary") China [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Mainland_China_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Mainland China medical cases chart") [confirmed per capita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Mainland_China_medical_cases_map_\(dots\) "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Mainland China medical cases map (dots)") [lockdowns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_lockdowns_in_mainland_China "Template:COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in mainland China") [by province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/China_medical_cases_by_province "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/China medical cases by province") [Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Hong_Kong_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Hong Kong medical cases chart") [Macau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Macau_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Macau medical cases chart") [Timor-Leste](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Timor-Leste_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Timor-Leste medical cases chart") Egypt [Georgia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Georgia_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Georgia medical cases chart") [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/India_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/India medical cases chart") [Indonesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Indonesia_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Indonesia medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Indonesia_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Indonesia medical cases chart") [Iran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Iran_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Iran medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Iran_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Iran medical cases chart") [Iraq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Iraq_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Iraq medical cases chart") [Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Israel_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Israel medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Israel_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Israel medical cases chart") [Japan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Japan_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Japan medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Japan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Japan medical cases chart") [Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Jordan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Jordan medical cases chart") [Kazakhstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Kazakhstan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Kazakhstan medical cases chart") [Kuwait cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Kuwait_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Kuwait medical cases chart") [Kyrgyzstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Kyrgyzstan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Kyrgyzstan medical cases chart") [Laos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Laos_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Laos medical cases") [Lebanon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Lebanon_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Lebanon medical cases chart") [Malaysia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Malaysia_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Malaysia medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Malaysia_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Malaysia medical cases chart") [charts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Charts_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malaysia "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Charts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia") Myanmar [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Myanmar_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Myanmar medical cases chart") [summary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Myanmar_medical_cases_summary "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Myanmar medical cases summary") [Nepal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Nepal_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Nepal medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Nepal_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Nepal medical cases chart") [Oman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Oman_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Oman medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Oman_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Oman medical cases chart") [Pakistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Pakistan_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Pakistan medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Pakistan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Pakistan medical cases chart") [Philippines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Philippines_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Philippines medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Philippines_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Philippines medical cases chart") [areas of quarantine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_community_quarantines_in_the_Philippines "Template:COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines") [vaccinations chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Philippines_vaccinations_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Philippines vaccinations chart") [Qatar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Qatar_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Qatar medical cases chart") [Saudi Arabia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Saudi_Arabia_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Saudi Arabia medical cases chart") [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Singapore_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Singapore medical cases chart") [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/South_Korea_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/South Korea medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/South_Korea_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/South Korea medical cases chart") [vaccinations charts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:South_Korea_COVID-19_vaccination_charts "Template:South Korea COVID-19 vaccination charts") [Sri Lanka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Sri_Lanka_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Sri Lanka medical cases chart") [Syria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Syria_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Syria medical cases chart") [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Taiwan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Taiwan medical cases chart") [vaccination charts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Taiwan_COVID-19_vaccination_charts "Template:Taiwan COVID-19 vaccination charts") [Tajikistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Tajikistan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Tajikistan medical cases chart") [Thailand cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Thailand_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Thailand medical cases chart") [United Arab Emirates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/United_Arab_Emirates_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/United Arab Emirates medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/United_Arab_Emirates_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/United Arab Emirates medical cases chart") [Uzbekistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Uzbekistan_medical_cases "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Uzbekistan medical cases") [cases chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Uzbekistan_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Uzbekistan medical cases chart") [Vietnam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Vietnam_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Vietnam medical cases chart") [statistics charts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_in_Vietnam_statistics_charts "Template:COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam statistics charts") [Yemen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_data/Yemen_medical_cases_chart "Template:COVID-19 pandemic data/Yemen medical cases chart") |
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_in_China "Template:COVID-19 pandemic in China") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:COVID-19_pandemic_in_China "Template talk:COVID-19 pandemic in China") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:COVID-19_pandemic_in_China "Special:EditPage/Template:COVID-19 pandemic in China")[COVID-19 pandemic in China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_China "COVID-19 pandemic in China") | |
|---|---|
| [Statistics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_China "Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in China") | |
| [Timeline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic") | [2019–2020 outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%932020_COVID-19_outbreak_in_mainland_China "2019–2020 COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China") |
| Locations | [Anhui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Anhui "COVID-19 pandemic in Anhui") [Beijing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Beijing "COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing") [2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_Beijing_\(2021\) "Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing (2021)") [Fujian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Fujian "COVID-19 pandemic in Fujian") [Guangdong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Guangdong "COVID-19 pandemic in Guangdong") [Hebei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hebei "COVID-19 pandemic in Hebei") [Heilongjiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Heilongjiang "COVID-19 pandemic in Heilongjiang") [Henan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Henan "COVID-19 pandemic in Henan") [Hubei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hubei "COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei") [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan "Wuhan") [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Wholesale_Market "Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market") [Hunan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Hunan "COVID-19 pandemic in Hunan") [Inner Mongolia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Inner_Mongolia "COVID-19 pandemic in Inner Mongolia") [Jiangxi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jiangxi "COVID-19 pandemic in Jiangxi") [Jilin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jilin "COVID-19 pandemic in Jilin") [Liaoning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Liaoning "COVID-19 pandemic in Liaoning") [Ningxia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Ningxia "COVID-19 pandemic in Ningxia") [Shandong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Shandong "COVID-19 pandemic in Shandong") [Shanghai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Shanghai "COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai") [2022 outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Shanghai_COVID-19_outbreak "2022 Shanghai COVID-19 outbreak") [Shaanxi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Shaanxi "COVID-19 pandemic in Shaanxi") [Shanxi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Shanxi "COVID-19 pandemic in Shanxi") [Sichuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Sichuan "COVID-19 pandemic in Sichuan") [Tianjin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tianjin "COVID-19 pandemic in Tianjin") [Tibet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Tibet "COVID-19 pandemic in Tibet") [Xinjiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Xinjiang "COVID-19 pandemic in Xinjiang") [Zhejiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Zhejiang "COVID-19 pandemic in Zhejiang") |
| Organizations (people) | |
| | |
| Hospitals (doctors) | [Central Hospital of Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Hospital_of_Wuhan "Central Hospital of Wuhan") [Ai Fen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Fen "Ai Fen") [Li Wenliang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Wenliang "Li Wenliang") [Wuhan Red Cross Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wuhan_Red_Cross_Hospital&action=edit&redlink=1 "Wuhan Red Cross Hospital (page does not exist)") [Liu Wen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Wen_\(doctor\) "Liu Wen (doctor)") [Wuhan Union Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Union_Hospital "Wuhan Union Hospital") [Xie Linka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xie_Linka "Xie Linka") [Hubei Hospital of Integrated C\&W Med.](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hubei_Provincial_Hospital_of_Integrated_Chinese_and_Western_Medicine&action=edit&redlink=1 "Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (page does not exist)") [Zhang Jixian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Jixian "Zhang Jixian") [Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Jinyintan_Hospital "Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital") [Huoshenshan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huoshenshan_Hospital "Huoshenshan Hospital") [Leishenshan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leishenshan_Hospital "Leishenshan Hospital") [Fangcang hospitals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangcang_hospital "Fangcang hospital") [Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabie_Mountain_Regional_Medical_Centre "Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre") |
| Authorities (officials) | [State Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Council_of_China "State Council of China") [Sun Chunlan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Chunlan "Sun Chunlan") [National Health Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Health_Commission "National Health Commission") [Ma Xiaowei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Xiaowei "Ma Xiaowei") [CCDC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Center_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention "Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention") [National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Administration_of_Disease_Control_and_Prevention "National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention") [Wang Hesheng](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Hesheng_\(politician\) "Wang Hesheng (politician)") [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan "Wuhan") government [Zhou Xianwang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Xianwang "Zhou Xianwang") |
| Institutions (researchers) | [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") [Shi Zhengli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Zhengli "Shi Zhengli") [CCDC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Center_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention "Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention") [George F. Gao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Gao "George F. Gao") [Zhang Yongzhen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Yongzhen "Zhang Yongzhen") [Zeng Guang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeng_Guang "Zeng Guang") [Wu Zunyou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zunyou "Wu Zunyou") [Tsinghua University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsinghua_University "Tsinghua University") [Liang Wannian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liang_Wannian "Liang Wannian") [Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_Union_Medical_College "Peking Union Medical College") [Wang Chen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Chen_\(physician\) "Wang Chen (physician)") [Academy of Military Medical Sciences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_Military_Medical_Sciences "Academy of Military Medical Sciences") [Chen Wei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Wei_\(medical_scientist\) "Chen Wei (medical scientist)") [Guangzhou Med. Uni.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou_Medical_University "Guangzhou Medical University") [Zhong Nanshan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhong_Nanshan "Zhong Nanshan") [Zhejiang Uni.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhejiang_University "Zhejiang University") [Li Lanjuan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Lanjuan "Li Lanjuan") [PKU 1st Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_University_Health_Science_Center "Peking University Health Science Center") [Wang Guangfa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Guangfa "Wang Guangfa") [Tianjin Uni. of TCM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianjin_University_of_Traditional_Chinese_Medicine "Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine") [Zhang Boli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Boli_\(physician\) "Zhang Boli (physician)") [Huashan Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huashan_Hospital "Huashan Hospital") [Zhang Wenhong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Wenhong "Zhang Wenhong") [HKU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Hong_Kong "University of Hong Kong") [Guan Yi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guan_Yi "Guan Yi") |
| Others | [Chen Qiushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Qiushi "Chen Qiushi") [Fang Bin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fang_Bin "Fang Bin") [Fang Fang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fang_Fang "Fang Fang") [Li Zehua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Zehua "Li Zehua") [Qiu Menghuang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiu_Menghuang "Qiu Menghuang") [Ren Zhiqiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_Zhiqiang "Ren Zhiqiang") |
| Media depictions | *[76 Days](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76_Days "76 Days")* *[Chinese Doctors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Doctors "Chinese Doctors")* *[Coronation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_\(2020_film\) "Coronation (2020 film)")* *[Embrace Again](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace_Again "Embrace Again")* *[In the Same Breath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Same_Breath "In the Same Breath")* *[Wuhan Diary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Diary "Wuhan Diary")* |
| Responses | [Government response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_government_response_to_COVID-19 "Chinese government response to COVID-19") [Health Codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Codes_\(Chinese_mobile_app_group\) "Health Codes (Chinese mobile app group)") [Lockdowns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdown_in_China "COVID-19 lockdown in China") [Shanghai 2022](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Shanghai_COVID-19_outbreak#Lockdown "2022 Shanghai COVID-19 outbreak") [Misinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation_by_China "COVID-19 misinformation by China") [Wilson Edwards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Edwards "Wilson Edwards") [Vaccination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_vaccination_in_mainland_China "COVID-19 vaccination in mainland China") [Protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_COVID-19_protests_in_China "2022 COVID-19 protests in China") |
| Related events | [Outbreak at Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Wholesale_Market "Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market") [Collapse of Xinjia Express Hotel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_Xinjia_Express_Hotel "Collapse of Xinjia Express Hotel") [Outbreak at Xinfadi Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinfadi_Market "Xinfadi Market") [2022 Guizhou bus crash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Guizhou_bus_crash "2022 Guizhou bus crash") [2022 Ürümqi fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_%C3%9Cr%C3%BCmqi_fire "2022 Ürümqi fire") |
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COVID-19 lab leak theory
15 languages
[Add topic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory) |
| Readable Markdown | This article is about the hypothesis proposing SARS-CoV-2 came from a laboratory. For bioweapon conspiracy theories, see [COVID-19 misinformation § Bio-weapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Bio-weapon "COVID-19 misinformation").
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology_main_entrance.jpg)
The [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") in [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan "Wuhan"), China
The **COVID-19 lab leak theory** is the hypothesis that [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2"), the virus responsible for the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic"), originated from a laboratory. This claim is highly controversial. There is [scientific consensus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_consensus "Scientific consensus") that the virus is not the result of [genetic engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering "Genetic engineering"). Most scientists believe it [spread to human populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillover_infection "Spillover infection") through natural [zoonotic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonotic "Zoonotic") transmission from [bats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bats "Bats"), similar to the [SARS-CoV-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-1 "SARS-CoV-1") and [MERS-CoV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MERS-CoV "MERS-CoV") outbreaks and consistent with other [pandemics throughout human history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_epidemics_and_pandemics "List of epidemics and pandemics").[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-McDonald-2025-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Most_scientists_zoonosis-2) Available evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 was originally harbored by bats and transmitted to humans through infected wild animals serving as [intermediate hosts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_hosts "Intermediate hosts") at the [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Market "Huanan Seafood Market") in [Wuhan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan "Wuhan"), Hubei, China, in December 2019.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WorobeyPekar-7) Several candidate animal species have been identified as potential intermediaries.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Intermediatehosts-14) There is no evidence supporting laboratory involvement, no indication that the virus existed in any lab prior to the pandemic, and no record of suspicious [biosecurity incidents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_laboratory_biosecurity_incidents "List of laboratory biosecurity incidents").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2022-17)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SMH-2023-18)
Many scenarios proposed for a lab leak are characteristic of [conspiracy theories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theories "Conspiracy theories").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) Central to many is a misplaced suspicion based on the proximity of the outbreak to the [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") (WIV), where [coronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronaviruses "Coronaviruses") are studied. Most large Chinese cities have laboratories that study coronaviruses,[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) and virus outbreaks typically begin in rural areas, but are first noticed in large cities.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2022-21) If a coronavirus outbreak occurs in China, there is a high likelihood it will occur near a large city, and therefore near a laboratory studying coronaviruses.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2022-21)[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021a-22) The idea of a leak at the WIV also gained support due to secrecy during the [Chinese government's response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_government_response_to_COVID-19 "Chinese government response to COVID-19").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23) The lab leak theory and its weaponization by politicians have both leveraged and increased [anti-Chinese sentiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Chinese_sentiment "Anti-Chinese sentiment"). Scientists from WIV had previously collected virus samples from bats in the wild, and allegations that they also performed undisclosed work on such viruses are central to some versions of the idea.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24) Some versions, particularly those alleging [genome engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genome_engineering "Genome engineering"), are based on [misinformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Wuhan_lab_origin "COVID-19 misinformation") or misrepresentations of scientific evidence.[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-25)[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)
The idea that the virus was released from a laboratory (accidentally or deliberately) appeared early in the pandemic.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021-28)[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bandeira-2021-29) It gained popularity in the United States through promotion by [conservative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States "Conservatism in the United States") personalities in early 2020,[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-30) fomenting tensions between the U.S. and China.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-31) Scientists and media outlets widely dismissed it as a conspiracy theory.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-33) The accidental leak idea had a resurgence in 2021.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34) In March, the [World Health Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization "World Health Organization") (WHO) published a report which deemed the possibility "extremely unlikely", though the WHO's director-general said the report's conclusions were not definitive.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Miller-2021-35) Subsequent plans for laboratory audits were rejected by China.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-36)
Most scientists are skeptical of the possibility of a laboratory origin, citing a lack of any supporting evidence for a lab leak and the abundant evidence supporting zoonosis.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16)[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Consensus-37) Though some scientists agree a lab leak should be examined as part of ongoing [investigations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigations_into_the_origin_of_COVID-19 "Investigations into the origin of COVID-19"),[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mallapaty-2021-38)[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-39) [politicization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicization_of_science "Politicization of science") remains a concern.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40)[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-41) In July 2022, two papers published in *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* described novel epidemiological and genetic evidence that suggested the pandemic likely began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and did not come from a laboratory.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2022-17)[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-42)[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WorobeyPekar-7)
Background
The principal hypothesis for the [origin of COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_COVID-19 "Origin of COVID-19") is that it became infectious to humans through a natural [spillover event](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillover_event "Spillover event") (zoonosis), which is supported by available evidence.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Alwine-2023-43)[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) The origin of COVID-19 is not definitively known, and the theory it became infectious to humans through escape from a laboratory where it was being studied has not been definitively ruled out, however most scientists believe zoonosis is more likely,[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-n542-44)[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-c486-45)[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-p828-46) with a minority favoring the lab leak theory.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-w524-47)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-z311-48)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-r009-49) Arguments used in support of a laboratory leak have been described as characteristic of [conspiratorial thinking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory "Conspiracy theory").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) A 2024 survey of 168 experts, most of whom were [epidemiologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiologist "Epidemiologist") and [virologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virologist "Virologist"), found on average they viewed zoonosis as 77% likely and a lab leak as 21% likely.[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-q904-50)
Zoonosis
Most new infectious diseases begin with a spillover event from animals.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40) These spill overs occur spontaneously, either by contact with wildlife animals, which are the majority of cases, or with farmed animals.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jones-2008-51)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Haider-2020-52) For example, the emergence of [Nipah virus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipah_virus "Nipah virus") in Perak, Malaysia, and the [2002 outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%932004_SARS_outbreak "2002–2004 SARS outbreak") of [SARS-CoV-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-1 "SARS-CoV-1") in Guangdong province, China, were natural zoonosis traced back to wildlife origin.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jones-2008-51) COVID-19 is considered by scientists to be "of probable animal origin".[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Haider-2020-52) It has been classified as a [zoonotic disease](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonotic_disease "Zoonotic disease") (naturally transmissible from animals to humans). Some scientists dispute this classification, since a [natural reservoir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_reservoir "Natural reservoir") has not been confirmed.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-53)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Haider-2020-52) The original source of viral transmission to humans remains unclear, as does whether the virus became [pathogenic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen "Pathogen") (capable of causing disease) before or after a spillover event.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2020-54)[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Andersen-2020-56)
Bats, a large reservoir of [betacoronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betacoronaviruses "Betacoronaviruses"), are considered the most likely natural reservoir of SARS‑CoV‑2.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-58) Differences between bat coronaviruses and SARS‑CoV‑2 suggest that humans may have been infected via an [intermediate host](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_host "Intermediate host").[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cyranoski-2020-59)[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Intermediatehosts-14) Research into the natural reservoir of the virus that caused the 2002 SARS outbreak has resulted in the discovery of many [SARS-like coronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-like_coronaviruses "SARS-like coronaviruses") circulating in bats, most found in [horseshoe bats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe_bat "Horseshoe bat"). Analysis indicates that a virus collected from *[Rhinolophus affinis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinolophus_affinis "Rhinolophus affinis")* in a cave near the town of Tongguan in [Yunnan province](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan_province "Yunnan province"), designated [RaTG13](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaTG13 "RaTG13"), has a 96% resemblance to SARS‑CoV‑2.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020-60)[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-61)[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-62) The RaTG13 virus genome was the closest known sequence to SARS-CoV-2 until the discovery of BANAL-52 in horseshoe bats in Laos,[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-63)[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020a-64) but it is [not its direct ancestor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_descent "Common descent").[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26) Other closely related sequences were also identified in samples from local bat populations in Yunnan province.[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-65) One such virus, [RpYN06](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RpYN06 "RpYN06"), shares 97% identity with SARS-CoV-2 in one large part of its genome, but 94% identity overall. Such "chunks" of [very highly identical nucleic acids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_by_descent "Identity by descent") are often implicated as evidence of a [common ancestor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_recent_common_ancestor "Most recent common ancestor").[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Singh-2021-66)[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-67)
An ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 likely acquired "generalist" binding to several different species through adaptive evolution in bats and an intermediate host species.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Intermediatehosts-14)[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-68)[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-69)[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-70) Estimates based on genomic sequences and contact tracing have placed the origin point of SARS-CoV-2 in humans as between mid-October and mid-November 2019.[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-71)[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-72) Some scientists (such as Fauci above and [CIRAD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIRAD "CIRAD")'s Roger Frutos) have suggested slow, undetected circulation in a smaller number of humans before a threshold event (such as replication in a larger number of hosts in a larger city like Wuhan) could explain an undetected adaption period.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)
The first known human infections from SARS‑CoV‑2 were discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020-60) Because many of the early infectees were workers at the [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Market "Huanan Seafood Market"),[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-73)[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-74) it was originally suggested that the virus might have originated from wild animals sold in the market, including civet cats, raccoon dogs, bats, or pangolins.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Andersen-2020-56)[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cyranoski-2020-59) Subsequent environmental analyses demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the market, with highest prevalence in areas of the market where animals known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection were held.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Pekar-2022-6)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3) Early human cases clustered around the market, and included infections from two separate SARS-CoV-2 lineages.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Br%C3%BCssow-2023-75)[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cen-2023-76)[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Xia-2023-77)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3) These two lineages demonstrated that the virus was actively infecting a population of animals in the market, and that sustained contact between those animals and humans had allowed for multiple viral transmissions into humans.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Br%C3%BCssow-2023-75)[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cen-2023-76)[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Xia-2023-77)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3) All early cases of [COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 "COVID-19") were later shown to be localized to the market and its immediate vicinity.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)
While other wild animals susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection are known to have been sold at Huanan, no bats or pangolins were sold at the market.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-78)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)
Wuhan Institute of Virology
The [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") and the [Wuhan Center for Disease Control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Center_for_Disease_Control "Wuhan Center for Disease Control") are located within miles of the original focal point of the pandemic, Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, and this very proximity has made it easy for conspiracy theories to take root suggesting the laboratory must be the virus' origin.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) However virology labs are often built near potential outbreak areas.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021a-22) Proponents of the lab leak theory typically omit to mention that most large Chinese cities have coronavirus research laboratories.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) Virus outbreaks tend to begin in rural areas, but are first noticed in large cities.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2022-21) [Stephan Lewandowsky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephan_Lewandowsky "Stephan Lewandowsky") and colleagues write that the location of the Institute near the outbreak site is "literally a coincidence" and using that coincidence as *a priori* evidence for a lab leak typifies a kind of [conjunction fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunction_fallacy "Conjunction fallacy"). Furthermore, they observe that is ironic lab leak proponents are keen to argue for the significance of proximity of laboratories to the outbreak, while ignoring the proximity of wet markets, which have long-been identified as potential origins for viral spillover events.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phylogenetic_analysis_of_SARS-CoV-2_and_representative_sarbecoviruses_and_geographical_context.webp)
[Phylogenetic tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetic_tree "Phylogenetic tree") of SARS-CoV-2 and closely related betacoronaviruses (left) and their geographic context (right)
The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had been conducting research on SARS-like bat coronaviruses since 2005,[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-79) and was involved in 2015 experiments that some experts (such as [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright")) have characterized as [gain-of-function](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function "Gain-of-function").[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-80) Others (including [Ralph Baric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Baric "Ralph Baric")) have disputed the characterization, pointing out that the experiments in question (involving [chimeric viruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_genetics "Reverse genetics")) were not conducted at the WIV, but at [UNC Chapel Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNC_Chapel_Hill "UNC Chapel Hill"), whose [institutional biosafety committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafety "Biosafety") assessed the experiments as not "gain-of-function".[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) Baric did acknowledge the risks involved in such studies, writing, "Scientific review panels may deem similar studies building chimeric viruses based on circulating strains too risky to pursue ... The potential to prepare for and mitigate future outbreaks must be weighed against the risk of creating more dangerous pathogens."[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-82)
The fact that the lab is in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic's early outbreak took place,[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Rasmussen-2021-83) and the fact that the research at WIV was being conducted under the less stringent [biosafety levels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafety_level "Biosafety level") (BSL) 2 and 3,[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-84) has led to speculation that SARS-CoV-2 could have escaped from the Wuhan lab.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-85) Richard Ebright said one reason that lower-containment [BSL-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BSL-2 "BSL-2") laboratories are sometimes used is the cost and inconvenience of high-containment facilities.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jacobsen-2021-24)[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-86) Australian virologist Danielle Anderson, who was the last foreign scientist to visit the WIV before the pandemic, said the lab "worked in the same way as any other high-containment lab". She also said it had "strict safety protocols".[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-87) The Huanan Seafood Market may have only served as a jumping off point for a virus that was already circulating in Wuhan, facilitating rapid expansion of the outbreak.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2020-54)[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-88)
Prior lab leak incidents and conspiracy theories
[Laboratory leak incidents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_laboratory_biosecurity_incidents "List of laboratory biosecurity incidents") have occurred in the past.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-89)[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-90) A Soviet [research facility in 1979 leaked anthrax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverdlovsk_anthrax_leak "Sverdlovsk anthrax leak") and at least 68 people died.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-The_Economist-2021-91) The [2007 foot-and-mouth outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United_Kingdom_foot-and-mouth_outbreak "2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak") in the UK was caused by a leaky pipe at a high-security laboratory.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-The_Economist-2021-91) The SARS virus escaped at least once, and probably twice, from a high-level biocontainment laboratory in China.[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-92)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16)[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-93)
Benign exposures to pathogens (which do not result in an infection) are probably under-reported, given the negative consequences of such events on the reputation of a host institution and low risk for widespread epidemics.[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-94) Epidemiologist [Marc Lipsitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Lipsitch "Marc Lipsitch") and bacteriologist [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright") have said that the risk of laboratory-acquired infection (especially with [modified pathogens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research "Gain-of-function research")) is greater than widely believed.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-95)[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-96)
No epidemic has ever been caused by the leak of a novel virus.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15) The only incident of a lab-acquired infection leading to an epidemic is the [1977 Russian flu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Russian_flu "1977 Russian flu") which was probably caused by a leaked strain of [H1N1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1N1 "H1N1") that had circulated naturally until the 1950s.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)
Previous novel disease outbreaks, such as [AIDS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS "AIDS"), [H1N1/09](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1N1/09 "H1N1/09"), [SARS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS "SARS"), and [Ebola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola "Ebola") have been the subject of conspiracy theories and allegations that the causative agent was created in or escaped from a laboratory.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-97)[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-98)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) Each of these is now understood to have a natural origin.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)
Psychological and social factors
Public interest in the lab leak theory has in part been attributed to secrecy during the [Chinese government's response](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_government_response_to_COVID-19 "Chinese government response to COVID-19") to the outbreak,[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23) which was characterized by a reluctance to share data and cooperate with international investigations.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-p828-46)[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-n542-44)
Survey work on the public in the United States has found that [identity politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics "Identity politics") and [racial resentment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_resentment "Racial resentment") are factors informing overconfident belief in the lab leak theory and COVID-19 misinformation in general. The researchers propose that this shows how such beliefs are resistant to refutation because they are not subject only to evidence, but to ingrained attitudes and notions of self.[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-99)
On social media the idea that COVID was a Chinese biological weapon has become widespread, and accords with rhetoric about how a [yellow peril](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_peril "Yellow peril") threatens white people.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-100) Science historian Fred Cooper and colleagues write that in the United Kingdom, attitudes to the Chinese have long been tainted by xenophobic stereotypes. Cooper draws a parallel between the Wuhan lab leak narrative, and the machinations of fictional supervillain [Fu Manchu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Manchu "Fu Manchu"), who is "expert in the deadly application of animal and biological agents" and who has been depicted on television shows as threatening the West with lethal diseases.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-101)
Proposed scenarios
The lab leak theory is not a single discrete proposed scenario, but a collection of various proposed scenarios on a spectrum with, at one end, a careless accident from legitimate research; at the other, the engineering and release of a Chinese [biological weapon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_weapon "Biological weapon").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19) While the proposed scenarios are theoretically subject to evidence-based investigation, it is not clear that any can be sufficiently [falsified](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsified "Falsified") to placate lab leak supporters, as they are based on pseudoscientific and conspiratorial thinking.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19)
There is no evidence that any laboratory had samples of SARS-CoV-2, or a plausible ancestor virus, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)
Various sources have hypothesised that SARS-CoV-2 could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology or another laboratory in Wuhan, such as the [Wuhan Center for Disease Control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Center_for_Disease_Control "Wuhan Center for Disease Control"). The theories vary on whether this was an intentional act or an accident. Theories also vary on whether the virus was modified by human activity prior to being released. By January 2020 some lab leak proponents were promoting a narrative with conspiracist components; such narratives were often supported using "racist tropes that suggest that epidemiological, genetic, or other scientific data had been purposefully withheld or altered to obscure the origin of the virus".[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) [David Gorski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gorski "David Gorski") refers to "the blatant anti-Chinese racism and xenophobia behind lab leak, whose proponents often ascribe a nefarious coverup to the Chinese government".[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2022-102) Gorski later stated the lab leak hypothesis hasn't "stood up to scientific scrutiny".[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-103) The use of xenophobic rhetoric also caused a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-104)
Origins
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, speculation about a laboratory leak was confined to conspiracy-minded portions of the internet, including [4Chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4Chan "4Chan") and [Infowars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infowars "Infowars"), but the ideas began to get wider traction after accusations about a "Chinese bioweapon" were originally published by [Great Game India](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Game_India&action=edit&redlink=1 "Great Game India (page does not exist)") and then republished by the [Red State Watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_State_Watch&action=edit&redlink=1 "Red State Watch (page does not exist)") and [Zero Hedge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Hedge "Zero Hedge") web sites.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105) From there, the idea gained media traction and was championed by American conservative political figures.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105)
The idea split into variants, including one that proposed Asian people were immune to COVID, or that the Chinese had a secret vaccine standing by for use. Some proposed that the Chinese government and World Health Organization were operating together in a conspiracy.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105) The American president of the time, Donald Trump, used anti-Chinese rhetoric (such as "Kung flu") to feed the idea, and said in an April 2020 news conference that he had documents supporting the idea that SARS-CoV-2 had come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105)
In reaction to this politicized environment, most mainstream science and media sources assumed that the lab leak idea was no more than racially fuelled propaganda, and by the summer of 2020 the idea was largely dismissed, until the next American president, Joe Biden, ordered an investigation into COVID's origins in 2021.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Birchall-2023-105)
Accidental release of a natural virus
Some have hypothesised the virus arose in humans from an [accidental infection of laboratory workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory-acquired_infection "Laboratory-acquired infection") by contact with a sample extracted from a wild animal or by direct contact with a captive animal or its respiratory droplets or feces.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)
Former CDC director [Robert R. Redfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_R._Redfield "Robert R. Redfield") said in March 2021 that in his opinion the most likely cause of the virus was a laboratory escape, which "doesn't imply any intentionality", and that as a virologist, he did not believe it made "biological sense" for the virus to be so "efficient in human to human transmission" from the early outbreak. The fact that scientists have not been successful in finding an intermediate host that picked up the virus from bats and passed it to humans is seen by some as evidence that supports a lab leak, according to *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*.[\[106\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-106)[\[107\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-107)
[University of Utah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Utah "University of Utah") virologist Stephen Goldstein has criticized the scientific basis of Redfield's comments, saying that since SARS-CoV-2's spike protein is very effective at jumping between hosts, one shouldn't be surprised that it transmits efficiently among humans. Goldstein said "If a [human virus \[such as SARS-CoV2\] can transmit among mink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_5 "Cluster 5"), there's no basis to assume a bat virus \[also SARS-CoV2\] can't transmit among humans. Us humans may think we're very special – but to a virus we are just another mammalian host."[\[108\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-108)
In June 2024, [Deborah Birx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Birx "Deborah Birx"), Donald Trump's Coronavirus Response Coordinator, in response to [CNN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN "CNN")'s [Kassie Hunt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasie_Hunt "Kasie Hunt") asking if there were efforts to discredit the lab leak theory, said "I do think it happened. If you look at what people said about Bob Redfield and how they disparaged him as a scientist because he wanted to bring forward the lab leak potential." She added: "And I think the reason \[Redfield\] felt he needed to bring it forward to push, was to push against this, ‘it had to be this way.’ Because we didn't know, and we knew we would never know."[\[109\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-109)[\[110\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-110)
WHO assessment
The [WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO-convened_Global_Study_of_Origins_of_SARS-CoV-2 "WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2"), written by a joint team of Chinese and international scientists and published in March 2021,[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mallapaty-2021-38)[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021c-111) assessed introduction through a laboratory incident to be "extremely unlikely" and not supported by any available evidence,[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)[\[112\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-112) although the report stated that this possibility could not be wholly ruled out without further evidence.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32) The report stated that human spillover via an intermediate animal host was the most likely explanation, with direct spillover from bats next most likely. Introduction through the food supply chain and the [Huanan Seafood Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Market "Huanan Seafood Market") was considered less likely.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WHO-2021-57)
A small group of researchers said that they would not trust the report's conclusions because it was overseen by the Chinese government, and some observers felt the WHO's statement was premature.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dyer-2021-23) Other scientists found the report convincing, and said there was no evidence of a laboratory origin for the virus.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021c-111)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom stated that the team had experienced difficulty accessing raw data on early COVID-19 cases and that the least likely hypothesis, a lab leak, required additional investigation because "further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions".[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Miller-2021-35)[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mallapaty-2021-38)[\[113\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-113) The leader of the WHO investigatory team, [Peter Ben Embarek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ben_Embarek "Peter Ben Embarek"), said "An employee of the lab gets infected while working in a bat cave collecting samples. Such a scenario, while being a lab leak, would also fit our first hypothesis of direct transmission of the virus from bat to human."[\[114\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-114)
The United States, European Union, and 13 other countries criticized the WHO-convened study, calling for transparency from the Chinese government and access to the raw data and original samples.[\[115\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-115) Chinese officials described these criticisms as "an attempt to politicise the study".[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zarocostas-2021-116) Scientists involved in the WHO report, including Liang Wannian, John Watson, and Peter Daszak, objected to the criticism, and said that the report was an example of the collaboration and dialogue required to successfully continue investigations into the matter.[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zarocostas-2021-116) Embarek later claimed in August 2021 that the WHO was put under pressure by Chinese scientists to dismiss the lab leak theory in its report.[\[117\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-e645-117)
On July 15, 2021, [WHO Director-General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_Director-General "WHO Director-General") [Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tedros_Adhanom_Ghebreyesus "Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus") said that the COVID-19 lab leak theory had been prematurely discarded by the WHO, following his earlier statements that a potential leak requires "further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts".[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-118) He proposed a second phase of WHO investigation, which he said should take a closer look at the lab leak idea, and asked the Chinese government to be "transparent" and release relevant data.[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Westcott-2021-119) Later on July 17, Tedros called for "audits of relevant laboratories and research institutions" in the area of the initial COVID-19 cases.[\[120\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-120) China's government refused saying it showed "disrespect" and "arrogance towards science".[\[121\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-121)[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Westcott-2021-119)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Buckley-2021-122) The United States criticised China's position on the follow-up origin probe as "irresponsible" and "dangerous".[\[123\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-123)
In June 2022, the WHO's [Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_Advisory_Group_for_Origins_of_Novel_Pathogens "Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens") (SAGO) published a preliminary report urged a deeper investigation into the possibility of a laboratory leak.[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-CBS-2022-124) The SAGO chair said in a press conference that "the strongest evidence is still around a zoonotic transmission".[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2022-125) The AP described the report as a "sharp reversal" of the WHO's previous assessment,[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-CBS-2022-124) and [Science.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science.org "Science.org") described reactions from academics as mixed.[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Cohen-2022-125)
In early 2023, the WHO abandoned its original investigation into the origin of SARS-CoV-2, delegating work to its standing committee, SAGO, with plans to establish a COVID-19 timeline, search for similar viruses, and conduct further laboratory studies on animals and human samples.[\[126\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-126) In 2025, SAGO suggested that a zoonotic origin has the "weight of available evidence" and emphasized that the origin remains unresolved without additional primary data, including early patient records and sequences, detailed wildlife supply-chain documentation, and laboratory biosafety and health records from [Wuhan institutions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology").[\[127\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SAGO2025-127)
Mojiang copper mine
Members of DRASTIC, a collection of internet activists advocating for the lab leak theory,[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kormann-2021-128)[\[129\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-129) have raised concerns over a respiratory outbreak that happened in the spring of 2012 near an abandoned copper mine in China, which Shi Zhengli's group investigated. Shi's group collected a sample of viral RNA and named it RaBtCoV/4991.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26) Later, Shi's group published a paper about a virus named RaTG13 in *Nature* in February 2020.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020-60) Via sequence comparisons, it became clear that RaBtCoV/4991 and RaTG13 were likely the same virus. Shi has said that the renaming was done to reflect the origin location and year of the virus.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020a-64)
Some proponents, including [Nicholas Wade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Wade "Nicholas Wade") and pseudonymous DRASTIC member "TheSeeker268", argued that the renaming was an attempt to obscure the origins of the virus and hide how it could be related to a laboratory origin of the related SARS-CoV-2 virus.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130) Scientists have said that RaTG-13 is too distantly related to be connected to the pandemic's origins, and could not be altered in a laboratory to create SARS-CoV-2.[\[131\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-131) *Nature* later published an addendum to the 2020 RaTG13 paper addressing any possible link to the mine, in which Shi says that the virus was collected there, but that it was very likely not the cause of the miners' illnesses. According to the addendum, laboratory tests conducted on the workers' serum were negative, and "no antibodies to a SARS-like coronavirus had been found."[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2020a-64)
Accidental release of a genetically modified virus
There is a scientific consensus that [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2") is not the result of [genetic engineering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering "Genetic engineering").[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-McDonald-2025-1) Nevertheless, one conspiracy theory spread in support a laboratory origin suggests SARS-CoV-2 was developed for [gain-of-function research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research "Gain-of-function research") on coronaviruses.[\[132\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-132) The exact meaning of "gain of function" is disputed among experts.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81)[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133)[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bryant-2021-134) According to emailed statements by [Shi Zhengli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi_Zhengli "Shi Zhengli"), director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, her lab has not conducted any unpublished gain-of-function experiments on coronaviruses, and all WIV staff and students tested negative for the virus in the early days of the pandemic.[\[135\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-135)
Furin cleavage site
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1-s2.0-S1873506120304165-ga1_lrg.jpg)
[Phylogenetic tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylogenetic_tree "Phylogenetic tree") depicting the presence (red) or absence (black) of a furin cleavage site in various [betacoronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betacoronavirus "Betacoronavirus"). From Wu et al.[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136)
One strand of argumentation in favor of a lab leak rests on the premise that there is something "unnatural" about the genetic makeup of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, showing it must have been created by genetic engineering.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Lewandowsky-2023-19)[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-137) Some claims of bioengineering focus on the presence of two sequential [cytosine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytosine "Cytosine")\-[guanine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanine "Guanine")\-guanine (CGG) [codons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codon "Codon") in the virus' [RNA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA "RNA"), more precisely in the crucial [furin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furin "Furin") cleavage site.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) The CGG codon is one of several codons that [translates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_\(biology\) "Translation (biology)") into an [arginine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arginine "Arginine") [amino acid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid "Amino acid"), and it is the least common arginine codon in human pathogenic betacoronaviruses.[\[138\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-138) Partially, this lack of CGG codons in human pathogenic coronaviruses is due to [natural selection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection "Natural selection"); [B-cells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-cell "B-cell") in the human body recognize areas on virus genomes where C and G are next to each other (so-called [CpG islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CpG_sites "CpG sites")).[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Krieg-1995-139) The CGG codon makes up 5% of the arginine codons in the [SARS-CoV-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-1 "SARS-CoV-1") genome, and it makes up 3% of the arginine codons in the [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2") genome.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)
Proponents of an engineered virus, including journalist [Nicholas Wade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Wade "Nicholas Wade"), say that two such uncommon codons in a row are evidence for a laboratory experiment; because of the low chance of a CGG codon pair occurring in nature, and in contrast, the common usage of CGG codons for arginine in genetic engineering work.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) This has been debunked by scientists,[\[140\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-140)[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Grehan-2021-141) who note that the CGG codon is also present (and even more frequent) in other coronaviruses, including [MERS-CoV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MERS-CoV "MERS-CoV"),[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-142) and that a codon being rare does not mean it cannot be present naturally.[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Grehan-2021-141)[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021a-143) If the CGG codon had been engineered into the virus, it should have mutated out of the virus as it circulated in humans in the wild over several years, but the opposite has occurred.[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021a-143) In fact, the presence of the furin cleavage site, which is responsible for a significant increase in transmissibility, largely outweighs any disadvantageous immune responses from B-cells triggered by the genetic sequences which code for it.[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Krieg-1995-139)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)
Another source of speculation is the mere presence of the furin cleavage site.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136) It is absent in the closest known relatives of SARS-CoV-2 (but present in other [betacoronaviruses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betacoronavirus "Betacoronavirus"), e.g., BtHpCoV-ZJ13).[\[144\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-144) This anomaly is most probably the result of [recombination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_recombination "Genetic recombination"),[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136)[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Whittaker-2021-145) and is further unsurprising since the genetic lineage of these viruses has not been adequately explored, sampled, or sequenced.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-146)[\[147\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-147) A common occurrence among other coronaviruses (including MERS-CoV, [HCoV-OC43](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCoV-OC43 "HCoV-OC43"), [HCoV-HKU1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HCoV-HKU1 "HCoV-HKU1"), and appearing in near-identical fashion in [HKU9-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HKU9-1 "HKU9-1")), the site is preceded by short [palindromic sequences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palindromic_sequence "Palindromic sequence") suggestive of natural recombination caused by simple [evolutionary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution "Evolution") mechanisms. Additionally, the suboptimal configuration and poor targeting of the cleavage site for humans or mice when compared with known examples (such as HCoV-OC43 or HCoV-HKU1), along with the complex and onerous molecular biology work this would have required, is inconsistent with what would be expected from an engineered virus.[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021b-148)
Project DEFUSE was a rejected [DARPA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA "DARPA") grant application, that proposed to sample bat coronaviruses from various locations in China.[\[149\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-149) The rejected proposal document was posted online by DRASTIC in September 2021.[\[150\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-150) Co-investigators on the rejected proposal included the [EcoHealth Alliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EcoHealth_Alliance "EcoHealth Alliance")'s [Peter Daszak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Daszak "Peter Daszak"), [Ralph Baric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Baric "Ralph Baric") from [UNC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_North_Carolina "University of North Carolina"), Linfa Wang from [Duke–NUS Medical School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke%E2%80%93NUS_Medical_School "Duke–NUS Medical School") in Singapore, and Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kormann-2021-128) The grantees proposed to evaluate the ability of bat viruses to infect human cells in the laboratory using [chimeric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_\(virus\) "Chimera (virus)") coronaviruses which were mutated in different locations, and to create protein-based vaccines out of the spike (S) protein (not the whole virus) which would be distributed to bats in the wild to reduce the chances of future human outbreaks.[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-151) One proposed alteration was to modify bat coronaviruses to insert a cleavage site for the Furin protease at the S1/S2 junction of the [spike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_spike_protein "Coronavirus spike protein") (S) viral protein. There is no evidence that any genetic manipulation or [reverse genetics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_genetics#Vaccine_synthesis "Reverse genetics") (a technique required to make chimeric viruses) of SARS-related bat coronaviruses was ever carried out at the WIV.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kormann-2021-128)[\[152\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-152) All available evidence points to the SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site being the result of natural evolution.[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Wu-2021-136)[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Whittaker-2021-145)[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021b-148)
Political and government opinion
The situation reignited a debate over [gain-of-function research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain-of-function_research "Gain-of-function research"), although the intense political rhetoric surrounding the issue has threatened to sideline serious inquiry over policy in this domain.[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-153) Researchers have said the politicization of the debate is making the process more difficult, and that words are often twisted to become "fodder for conspiracy theories".[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-154)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hakim-2021-27)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32) The idea of an experiment conducted in 2015 on SARS-like coronaviruses being the source of the pandemic was reported in British tabloids early in the pandemic.[\[155\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-155) Virologist [Angela Rasmussen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Rasmussen "Angela Rasmussen") writes that this is unlikely, due to the intense scrutiny and government oversight gain-of-function research is subject to, and that it is improbable that research on hard-to-obtain coronaviruses could occur under the radar.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Rasmussen-2021-83)
[Kentucky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky "Kentucky") Senator [Rand Paul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rand_Paul "Rand Paul") alleged that the US [National Institutes of Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institutes_of_Health "National Institutes of Health") (NIH) had been funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, accusing researchers including epidemiologist Ralph Baric of creating "super-viruses".[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133)[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) Both Fauci and NIH Director [Francis Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Collins "Francis Collins") denied that the US government supported such research.[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133)[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bryant-2021-134)[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dapcevich-2021-156) Baric likewise rejected Paul's allegations, saying his lab's research into cross-species transmission of bat coronaviruses did not qualify as gain-of-function.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) While a 2017 study of [chimeric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimeric_virus "Chimeric virus") bat coronaviruses at the WIV listed NIH as a sponsor, NIH funding was only related to sample collection.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) A *Washington Post* fact-checker commented that "[EcoHealth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EcoHealth_Alliance "EcoHealth Alliance") funding was not related to the experiments, but the collection of samples", and that "statements about Baric's research appear overblown".[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021a-81) In October 2021, a spokesman for the NIH acknowledged that the EcoHealth Alliance had provided new data demonstrating that in a mouse experiment, a coronavirus had caused more weight loss than expected.[\[157\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-157) This was described as an unexpected consequence of the research, and not its intended outcome or a component of the original funding proposal.[\[158\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-158) Importantly, the NIH spokesman said this finding was provided in a late progress report, and was not available before prior statements about experiments at the WIV.[\[159\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-159)
An August 2021 interim report authored by the [minority staff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_staff#Committee_staff "Congressional staff") of the [Republican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_\(United_States\) "Republican Party (United States)") members of the [US House Foreign Affairs Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Foreign_Affairs "United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs") said that a laboratory leak origin for SARS-CoV-2 was more likely than a natural one.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2022-160)[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-161) The report alleged that SARS-CoV-2 emerged in humans as a result of gain-of-function research made on the [RaTG13](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaTG13 "RaTG13") virus, collected in a cave in [Yunnan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan "Yunnan") province in 2012, which was afterwards accidentally released some time before September 12, 2019, when the database of the [Wuhan Institute of Virology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan_Institute_of_Virology "Wuhan Institute of Virology") went offline.[\[162\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-162)[\[163\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-163) The August 2021 report relies mostly on existing public evidence, combined with internal documents from the [CCP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCP "CCP") from before and during the early days of the pandemic.[\[164\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-164)
The interim report was published coinciding with a joint investigation from *[ProPublica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ProPublica "ProPublica")* and *[Vanity Fair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_\(magazine\) "Vanity Fair (magazine)")*.[\[165\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-165)[\[166\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-166) Immediately following its publication, the report was heavily criticized by experts in diplomacy and the Chinese language for mistranslations and misinterpretations of Chinese documents.[\[167\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-167)[\[168\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-168) Bacteriologist and lab leak theory proponent [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright") criticized the report for packaging pre-existing and previously examined evidence as new information.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2022-160) Evolutionary biologist [Michael Worobey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Worobey "Michael Worobey") commented that the document seemed to be either "a cynical effort to try to win Republican votes" in the November 2022 midterm elections, or "a bunch of staffers with no ability to understand the science who stumbled across a bunch of misinformation and disinformation-filled tweets."[\[169\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-169) Virologist [Angela Rasmussen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Rasmussen "Angela Rasmussen") described the report as "an embarrassingly bad use of taxpayer money and resources."[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2022-160) The final version of the report was released on April 18, 2023. The final version reiterated the interim position that the pandemic began in a laboratory incident in the fall of 2019, based on what it called a "preponderance of circumstantial evidence".[\[170\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-170)
Fringe views on genetic engineering
The earliest known recorded mention of any type of lab leak theory appeared in the form of a tweet published on January 5, 2020, from a Hong Kong user named @GarboHK, insinuating that the Chinese government had created a new virus and intentionally released it.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021-28)[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Bandeira-2021-29) Similar ideas were later formalized in a [preprint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preprint "Preprint") posted on [BioRxiv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioRxiv "BioRxiv") on January 31, 2020, by researchers at the [Indian Institute of Technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Institute_of_Technology "Indian Institute of Technology"), claiming to find similarities between the new coronavirus' genome and that of HIV. The paper was quickly retracted due to irregularities in the researchers' "technical approach and...interpretation of the results".[\[171\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-171)[\[172\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-172) This claim was promoted by [Luc Montagnier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Montagnier "Luc Montagnier"), a controversial French virologist and [Nobel laureate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_laureate "Nobel laureate"), who contended that SARS-CoV-2 might have been created during research on a [HIV/AIDS vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_vaccine "HIV/AIDS vaccine").[\[173\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-173)[\[174\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-174) Bioinformatics analyses show that the common sequences are short, that their similarity is insufficient to support the hypothesis of common origin, and that the identified sequences were independent insertions which occurred at varied points during the evolution of coronaviruses.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Frutos-2021-32)[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-175)[\[176\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-176)
Further claims were promulgated by several [anti-vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-vaccine "Anti-vaccine") activists, such as [Judy Mikovits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Mikovits "Judy Mikovits") and [James Lyons-Weiler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lyons-Weiler "James Lyons-Weiler"), who claimed that SARS-CoV-2 was created in a laboratory,[\[177\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hao-2020-177) with Mikovits going further and stating that the virus was both deliberately engineered and deliberately released.[\[178\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-178)[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Gorski-2021-16) Weiler's analysis, where he argued that a long sequence in the middle of the spike protein of the virus was not found in other coronaviruses and was evidence for laboratory recombination, was dismissed by scientists, who found that the sequence in question was also found in many other coronaviruses, suggesting that it was "widely spread" in nature.[\[177\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Hao-2020-177)
Chinese researcher [Li-Meng Yan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li-Meng_Yan "Li-Meng Yan") was an early proponent of deliberate genetic engineering, releasing widely criticised [preprint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preprint "Preprint") papers in favor of the lab leak theory in the spring of 2020.[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Koyama-2020-179)[\[180\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Warmbrod-2020-180) After she released her preprints, political operatives (including [Steve Bannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon "Steve Bannon") and [Guo Wengui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guo_Wengui "Guo Wengui")) arranged for Yan to flee to the United States in the summer of 2020 to engage in a speaking tour on right-wing media outlets, as a method of distracting from the Trump administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-181) According to scientific reviewers from the [Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johns_Hopkins_Center_for_Health_Security "Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security"), Yan's paper offered "contradictory and inaccurate information that does not support their argument,"[\[180\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Warmbrod-2020-180) while reviewers from [MIT Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIT_Press "MIT Press")'s *[Rapid Reviews: COVID-19](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Reviews:_COVID-19 "Rapid Reviews: COVID-19")* criticised her preprints as not demonstrating "sufficient scientific evidence to support \[their\] claims."[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Koyama-2020-179)
In September 2022, a panel assembled by *[The Lancet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lancet "The Lancet")* published a wide-ranging report on the pandemic, including commentary on the virus origin overseen by the group's chairman [Jeffrey Sachs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Sachs "Jeffrey Sachs"). This suggested that the virus may have originated from an American laboratory, a notion long-promoted by Sachs, including on the podcast of conspiracy theorist [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr. "Robert F. Kennedy Jr.") Reacting to this, virologist [Angela Rasmussen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Rasmussen "Angela Rasmussen") commented that this may have been "one of The Lancet's most shameful moments regarding its role as a steward and leader in communicating crucial findings about science and medicine".[\[182\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kilander-2022-182) Virologist [David Robertson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Robertson_\(virologist\) "David Robertson (virologist)") said the suggestion of US laboratory involvement was "wild speculation" and that "it's really disappointing to see such a potentially influential report contributing to further misinformation on such an important topic".[\[182\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kilander-2022-182)
Deliberate release
Historian of science [Naomi Oreskes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Oreskes "Naomi Oreskes") says that she does not know of any credible scientists who support the view that the virus was released deliberately, while the version proposing the virus may have escaped accidentally is more plausible.[\[183\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-183)
In the United States, Senator [Marsha Blackburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsha_Blackburn "Marsha Blackburn") proposed a bill that would allow people to lodge lawsuits against China for use of a "biological weapon", stating that "China has a 5,000-year history of cheating and stealing. Some things will never change".[\[184\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-184)
Media reports
The first media reports suggesting a SARS-CoV-2 lab leak appeared in the *[Daily Mail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail "Daily Mail")* and *[The Washington Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Times "The Washington Times")* in late January 2020.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kessler-2021-28) In a January 31, 2020, interview with *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*, Professor Richard Ebright said there was a possibility that SARS-CoV-2 entered humans through a laboratory accident in Wuhan, and that all data on the genome sequence and properties of the virus were "consistent with entry into the human population as either a natural accident or a laboratory accident".[\[185\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-185) A February 5, 2021, report from *[Caixin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caixin "Caixin")* described these reports as rumors originating from two sources: a preprint paper by an Indian scholar posted to [bioRxiv](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioRxiv "BioRxiv") that was later withdrawn, and a *[BBC China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_China "BBC China")* report.[\[186\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E7%8B%AC%E5%AE%B6|%E7%9F%B3%E6%AD%A3%E4%B8%BD%E5%9B%9E%E5%BA%94%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91_%E4%B8%93%E5%AE%B6%E4%B8%80%E8%87%B4%E8%AE%A4%E4%B8%BA%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E9%9D%9E%E4%BA%BA%E9%80%A0-186)[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E6%A8%A1%E7%B3%8A%E4%B8%8D%E6%B8%85%E7%9A%84%E9%9B%B6%E5%8F%B7%E7%97%85%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8E%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%9D%A5%E6%BA%90%E4%BA%89%E8%AE%AE-187) On February 8, 2023, the acting director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) testified before a Republican-led House committee that the viruses studied in the Wuhan lab "bear no relationship" to SARS-CoV-2 and that suggesting equivalency would be akin to "saying that a human is equivalent to a cow".[\[188\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-188)
In early 2021, the hypothesis returned to popular debate due to renewed media discussion.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189) The renewed interest was prompted by two events. First, an article published in May by *[The Wall Street Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journal "The Wall Street Journal")* reported that lab workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill with COVID-19-like symptoms in November 2019. The report was based on off-the-record briefings with intelligence officials.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)[\[190\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-190) The cases would precede official reports from the Chinese government stating the first known cases were in December 2019, although unpublished government data suggested the earliest cases were detected in mid-November.[\[191\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-191)[\[192\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-192) *The Guardian* stated that the *WSJ* article did little to confirm, in terms of good, quality evidence, the possibility of a lab leak;[\[193\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-193) a declassified report from the [National Intelligence Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Council "National Intelligence Council") likewise said that the fact the researchers were hospitalized was unrelated to the origins of the outbreak.[\[194\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-194) Second, it was shown that [Peter Daszak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Daszak "Peter Daszak"), the key organiser of the February 2020 statement in *The Lancet*, did not disclose connections to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34)[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)[\[195\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-195) An addendum was later published by *The Lancet*, in which Daszak listed his previous cooperation with Chinese researchers.[\[196\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-196)
After the publication of the WHO-convened report, politicians, talk show hosts, journalists, and some scientists advanced claims that SARS-CoV-2 may have come from the WIV.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40) DRASTIC also contributed to its promotion, particularly via [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter").[\[197\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-197) In July 2021, a [Harvard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard "Harvard")–*[Politico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politico "Politico")* survey indicated that 52 percent of Americans believed that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak, while 28 percent believed that COVID-19 originated from an infected animal in nature.[\[198\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-198) By March 2023, the percentage of Americans believing in lab origin had doubled (from 30% to 60%) since 3 years earlier, and the percentage of Americans believing in natural origins had halved (from 40% to 20%).[\[199\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-199)
Science educationalist Heslley Machado Silva describes the idea of a China-produced virus as part of "xenophobic social network crusade" akin to a far-fetched movie scenario, which has nevertheless garnered many millions of internet adherents. Silva raises a plea for the pandemic to be a time for humanity to become "better and not an opportunity to foment hatred".[\[200\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-200)
After May 2021, some media organizations softened previous language that described the laboratory leak theory as "debunked" or a "conspiracy theory".[\[201\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Stanage-2021-201) However, the prevailing scientific view remained that while an accidental leak was possible, it was highly unlikely.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Consensus-37)[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40)
A group of scientists called the "Paris group" in 2021 advocated for an inquiry into the role of scientific and medical journals which they claimed to have rebuffed dozens of articles about the possibility of the lab leak hypothesis.[\[202\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-c097-202) Some commentators such as science journalist [Jane Qiu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Qiu "Jane Qiu") and academic [Zeynep Tufekci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeynep_Tufekci "Zeynep Tufekci") have criticized the immediate framing of the lab leak theory as a conspiracy theory.[\[203\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-b760-203)[\[204\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-t702-204)
China–US relations
The origin of COVID-19 became a source of friction in [China–United States relations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93United_States_relations "China–United States relations"). The lab leak theory was promulgated in early 2020 by United States politicians and media, particularly US president [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump"), other prominent Republicans, and conservative media (such as [Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News") pundit Tucker Carlson, and former *[Breitbart News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitbart_News "Breitbart News")* publisher and White House chief strategist [Steve Bannon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon "Steve Bannon")).[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130) Trump had also referred to the virus as "kung flu",[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Chow-2021-205) and the administration also expressed the intention to sanction China.[\[206\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-206) In April 2020, Trump claimed to have evidence for the lab leak theory, but refused to produce it when requested.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)[\[207\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-207) At that time, the media did not distinguish between the accidental lab leak of a natural virus and [bio-weapon origin conspiracy theories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_misinformation#Bio-weapon "COVID-19 misinformation"). In online discussions, various theories – including the lab leak theory – were combined to form larger, baseless conspiracy plots.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Knight-2021-189)
In May 2020, Fox News host [Tucker Carlson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_Carlson "Tucker Carlson") accused [Anthony Fauci](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Fauci "Anthony Fauci") of having "funded the creation of COVID" through gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Robertson-2021-133) Citing an essay by science writer [Nicholas Wade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Wade "Nicholas Wade"), Carlson alleged that Fauci had directed research to make bat viruses more infectious to humans.[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Dapcevich-2021-156) [Facebook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook "Facebook") enacted a policy to remove discussion of the lab leak theory as misinformation; it lifted the ban a year later, in May 2021.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34)[\[208\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-208)[\[209\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-209)
A *BBC China* report stated that on February 14, Chinese president [Xi Jinping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping "Xi Jinping") proposed for biosafety to be incorporated into law; the following day, new measures were introduced to "strengthen the management of laboratories", especially those working with viruses.[\[186\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E7%8B%AC%E5%AE%B6|%E7%9F%B3%E6%AD%A3%E4%B8%BD%E5%9B%9E%E5%BA%94%E8%B4%A8%E7%96%91_%E4%B8%93%E5%AE%B6%E4%B8%80%E8%87%B4%E8%AE%A4%E4%B8%BA%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E9%9D%9E%E4%BA%BA%E9%80%A0-186)[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-%E6%A8%A1%E7%B3%8A%E4%B8%8D%E6%B8%85%E7%9A%84%E9%9B%B6%E5%8F%B7%E7%97%85%E4%BA%BA%E4%B8%8E%E6%96%B0%E5%86%A0%E7%97%85%E6%AF%92%E6%9D%A5%E6%BA%90%E4%BA%89%E8%AE%AE-187) In April 2020, *The Guardian* reported that China had taken steps to tightly regulate domestic research into the source of the outbreak in an attempt to control the narrative surrounding its origins and encourage speculation that the virus started outside the country.[\[210\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-210) In May 2020, Chinese state media carried statements by scientists countering claims that the seafood market and Institute of Virology were possible origin sites, including comments by [George Gao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_F._Gao "George F. Gao"), director of the [Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Center_for_Disease_Control_and_Prevention "Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention").[\[211\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-211)
In the United States, anti-China misinformation spread on social media, including baseless bio-weapon claims, fueled aggressive rhetoric towards people of Asian ancestry,[\[212\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-212) and the bullying of scientists.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40) Some scientists were worried their words would be misconstrued and used to support racist rhetoric.[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Chow-2021-205) A [letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_to_the_editor "Letter to the editor") published in *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* by [Jesse Bloom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Bloom "Jesse Bloom") and others, outlined the uncertain origin of [SARS-CoV-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS-CoV-2 "SARS-CoV-2") and proved an impetus for misinformation.[\[213\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-213)[\[214\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-214) The letter was criticized by virologists and public health experts, who said that a "hostile" and "divisive" focus on the WIV was unsupported by evidence, was impeding inquiries into legitimate concerns about China's pandemic response and transparency by combining them with speculative and meritless argument,[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Kasprak-2021-26) and would cause Chinese scientists and authorities to share less rather than more data.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Maxmen-2021b-40)
Some members of the Chinese government have promoted a counter-conspiracy theory claiming that SARS‑CoV‑2 originated in the U.S. military installation at [Fort Detrick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Detrick "Fort Detrick").[\[215\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-215)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Buckley-2021-122) This theory has little support. Chinese demands to investigate U.S. laboratories are thought to be a distracting technique to push focus away from Wuhan.[\[216\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-216)
Attacks on scientists
A consistent feature of all varieties of the lab leak theory is that they direct blame at scientists. Scientists are accused of engineering the virus or negligently allowing it to escape their laboratories, and then conspiring to cover-up their misdeeds.[\[217\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-217)
Two [Rutgers University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutgers_University "Rutgers University") faculty members – [Richard Ebright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ebright "Richard Ebright") and Bryce Nickels – have been prominent social media posters advancing the lab leak position, and have continually attacked COVID-19 researchers, and compared them to [Nazis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi "Nazi") and [Pol Pot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot "Pol Pot"). In March 2024, twelve scientists made a formal complaint to Rutgers about Ebright and Nickels, saying they had posted messages to social media which risked their safety and which could be defamatory. Ebright reacted to the complaint saying it was "a crude effort to silence \[…\] opponents" and Nickels said the complaint contained "deliberate lies".[\[218\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-218)
Negative societal effects
According to [Paul Thacker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Thacker "Paul Thacker") (writing for the *[British Medical Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Medical_Journal "British Medical Journal")*), some scientists and reporters said that "objective consideration of COVID-19's origins went awry early in the pandemic, as researchers who were funded to study viruses with pandemic potential launched a campaign labelling the lab leak hypothesis as a 'conspiracy theory.'"[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34) In February 2020, a letter was published in *[The Lancet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lancet "The Lancet")* authored by 27 scientists and spearheaded by Peter Daszak which described some alternate origin ideas as "conspiracy theories".[\[219\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-219) [Filippa Lentzos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippa_Lentzos "Filippa Lentzos") said some scientists "closed ranks" as a result, fearing for their careers and grants.[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Thacker-2021-34) The letter was criticized by [Jamie Metzl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Metzl "Jamie Metzl") for "scientific propaganda and thuggery",[\[220\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-220) and by [Katherine Eban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Eban "Katherine Eban") as having had a "[chilling effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilling_effect "Chilling effect")" on scientific research and the scientific community by implying that scientists who "bring up the lab-leak theory ... are doing the work of conspiracy theorists".[\[221\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-221)[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Eban-2021-130)
Early in 2020, scientists including [Jeremy Farrar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Farrar "Jeremy Farrar"), [Kristian G. Andersen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristian_G._Andersen "Kristian G. Andersen"), and [Robert F. Garry](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_F._Garry&action=edit&redlink=1 "Robert F. Garry (page does not exist)"), among others, sent emails to Anthony Fauci with questions regarding what Andersen referred to as "crackpot conspiracy theories" about a lab leak, and whether evidence supported them.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-222)[\[223\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-223) NIH director [Francis Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Collins "Francis Collins") was concerned at the time that discussion of the possibility could damage "international harmony".[\[224\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-224) After the discovery of similar viruses in nature, more research into the genome, and the availability of more genomic sequences from the early days of the pandemic, these scientists publicly stated they supported the zoonotic theory as the most likely explanation.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-225)[\[226\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-226)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[227\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-227)
Some journalists and scientists said they dismissed or avoided discussing the lab leak theory during the first year of the pandemic as a result of perceived polarization resulting from Donald Trump's embrace of the lab leak theory.[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Chow-2021-205)[\[201\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Stanage-2021-201)[\[228\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-228)[\[229\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-229) The chair of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology, [Arturo Casadevall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arturo_Casadevall "Arturo Casadevall"), said that, he (like many others) previously underestimated the lab leak hypothesis "mainly because the emphasis then \[early in the pandemic\] was on the idea of a deliberately engineered virus". However, by May 2021 it was a "long-simmering concern" in scientific circles, and that he perceived "greater openness" to it.[\[230\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-230)
By fall 2022, the scientific consensus was that the pandemic most likely began with a natural zoonosis.[\[231\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-231)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2021-15)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Holmes-2022-17) The most likely natural reservoir is believed to reside in bats, with a possible intermediate host (such as [palm civets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_civet "Palm civet"),[\[232\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-232)[\[233\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2021-233) [minks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minks "Minks"),[\[234\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-234)[\[233\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Zhou-2021-233) or [pangolins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolins "Pangolins")[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Singh-2021-66)[\[235\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-235)), before spillover into humans.[\[236\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-236)[\[237\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-237) In March 2023, James Alwine and colleagues argued that continuing to frame the lab leak hypothesis as being as likely as natural spillover was responsible for a misdirection of scientific effort, which could compromise progress towards preparing for future pandemics.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Alwine-2023-43)
In August 2024 the *[Lancet Microbe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancet_Microbe "Lancet Microbe")* published an editorial saying it is "simply wrong" to assert that SARS-CoV-2 is of unnatural origin, and ascribed continued interest in the unnatural origin idea to irresponsible journalism and political motivation. The editorial expressed concern that the furore around the virus's origins had a "chilling effect" on legitimate virology research and could jeopardise mankind's safety from pathogens in the future.[\[238\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-238)
Government and intelligence agencies
Some intelligence agencies have assessed the possibility of a lab leak origin for SARS-CoV-2. Such assessments evaluate source credibility rather than conduct scientific research.[\[239\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-239)
In 2020, *[Der Spiegel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Spiegel "Der Spiegel")* reported that Germany’s Defence Ministry, in an internal memo, dismissed lab leak theories as a U.S. political distraction from pandemic policy failures.[\[240\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-:2-240) In 2025, German newspapers said that an unpublished 2020 [Federal Intelligence Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Intelligence_Service "Federal Intelligence Service") report estimated a 80–90% probability of a lab leak.[\[241\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-:1-241) In late 2024, the German government requested an external review of the unpublished report.[\[242\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-:3-242)
An August 2021 U.S. report, commissioned by [President Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_Biden "President Biden"), found no evidence of Chinese foreknowledge of the COVID-19 outbreak.[\[243\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-243) The inconclusive assessment included four agencies (and the [National Intelligence Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Council "National Intelligence Council")) favoring zoonotic origin with low confidence, three undecided, and the FBI supporting a lab leak with moderate confidence.[\[244\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-244)[\[245\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-245)[\[246\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-246) British intelligence deemed a lab leak "feasible".[\[247\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-247)
In February 2023, the [U.S. Department of Energy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Department_of_Energy "U.S. Department of Energy") shifted to a "low confidence" lab leak assessment, indicating unreliable sources.[\[248\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-248)[\[249\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2023-249)[\[250\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-250)[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-251) FBI Director [Christopher Wray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_A._Wray "Christopher A. Wray") reiterated the bureau’s stance, accusing China of obstructing investigations.[\[252\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-252)[\[253\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-253) [National Security Advisor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Advisor_\(United_States\) "National Security Advisor (United States)") Jake Sullivan stated that there was "no definitive answer." to the pandemic origins' question.[\[249\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Mueller-2023-249)[\[254\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-254)
A declassified June 2023 [Office of the Director of National Intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director_of_National_Intelligence "Director of National Intelligence") report found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in labs or biosafety incidents but could not rule out a leak. Most agencies (with low confidence) favored zoonotic origin.[\[255\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-255)[\[256\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-256)[\[257\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Merchant-2023-257) Lab leak proponents accused intelligence agencies of bias or incompetence.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SMH-2023-18) Science reporter Liam Mannix called it the end of the lab leak theory.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-SMH-2023-18)[\[257\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Merchant-2023-257)
In 2025, the CIA stated the virus was "more likely" from a lab leak but with "low confidence".[\[258\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-258) On April 18, 2025, the [second Trump administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Trump_administration "Second Trump administration") removed the online hub for federal COVID-19 resources and redirected the domain to a whitehouse.gov page endorsing the lab leak theory.[\[259\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-259) Virologist Angela Rasmussen called the page "pure propaganda, intended to justify the systematic devastation of... programs devoted to public health and biomedical research".[\[260\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-260)
Developments since 2022
In June 2022, the WHO released a report advocating for more investigation into the lab leak theory.[\[261\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-261) In response, Chinese [Foreign Ministry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China") spokesperson [Zhao Lijian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Lijian "Zhao Lijian") called the lab leak theory "a lie concocted by anti-China forces for political purposes, which has nothing to do with science".[\[262\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-262)
In July 2022, two articles appeared in the journal *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* analyzing all available epidemiological and genetic evidence from the earliest known cases in Wuhan.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-WorobeyPekar-7) Based on two different analyses, the authors of both papers concluded that the outbreak began at the [Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanan_Seafood_Wholesale_Market "Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market") and was unconnected to any laboratory. A third paper (a [pre-print](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-print "Pre-print"))[\[263\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-263) examined RNA samples taken directly from the market in the spring of 2020 and detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in environmental samples collected from animal stalls and sewage wells at the market.[\[264\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-264)[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Garry-2022-20) The RNA detected was highly similar to viruses which infected early outbreak patients who became sick after being present at the market.[\[265\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-265)[\[266\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-266) No virus was detected in any samples taken directly from animals at the market. [University of Sydney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Sydney "University of Sydney") virologist and co-author of both publications [Edward C. Holmes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_C._Holmes "Edward C. Holmes") commented that "The siren has definitely sounded on the lab leak theory" and "There's no emails. There's no evidence in any of the science. There's absolutely nothing".[\[267\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-267)
In 2026, virologist Joel Wertheim and colleagues at [UCSD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_San_Diego "University of California, San Diego") published a study in the journal *Cell* which compared evolutionary patterns of outbreaks of Ebola, influenza and other viruses.[\[268\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-t8102-268) They found that the mutation pattern of SARS-CoV-2 matched five naturally occurring outbreaks, but did not resemble the [1977 Russian flu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Russian_flu "1977 Russian flu") outbreak which was likely from a lab leak.[\[269\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-a697-269)[\[270\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-v822-270)
References
1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-McDonald-2025_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-McDonald-2025_1-1)
McDonald J (May 23, 2025). ["Trump Administration Incorrectly Claims Certainty About Origin of Coronavirus"](https://www.factcheck.org/2025/05/trump-administration-incorrectly-claims-certainty-about-origin-of-coronavirus/). *FactCheck.org*. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Most_scientists_zoonosis_2-0)**
See:
- Pekar J (July 26, 2022). ["The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 960–966\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..960P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..960P). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abp8337](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abp8337). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9348752](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35881005](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35881005).
- Jiang X, Wang R (August 25, 2022). ["Wildlife trade is likely the source of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 925–926\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..925J](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..925J). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.add8384](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.add8384). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36007033](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36007033). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [251843410](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:251843410). Retrieved November 20, 2022. "Although the most probable reservoir animal for SARS-CoV-2 is Rhinolophus bats (2, 3), zoonotic spillovers likely involve an intermediate animal."
- Holmes EC, Goldstein SA, Rasmussen AL, Robertson DL, Crits-Christoph A, et al. (September 2021). ["The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). *Cell* (Review). **184** (19): 4848–4856\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.cell.2021.08.017](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cell.2021.08.017). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8373617](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34480864](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34480864). "As for the vast majority of human viruses, the most parsimonious explanation for the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is a zoonotic event...There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has a laboratory origin. There is no evidence that any early cases had any connection to the WIV, in contrast to the clear epidemiological links to animal markets in Wuhan, nor evidence that the WIV possessed or worked on a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 prior to the pandemic."
- Bolsen T, Palm R, Kingsland JT (October 2020). ["Framing the Origins of COVID-19"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7484600). *Science Communication*. **42** (5): 562–585\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1177/1075547020953603](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1075547020953603). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1075-5470](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1075-5470). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7484600](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7484600). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [38603006](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38603006). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [221614695](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:221614695). "Individuals may learn about the origins of COVID-19 through exposure to stories that communicate either what most scientists believe (i.e., zoonotic transmission) or through exposure to conspiratorial claims (e.g., the virus was created in a research laboratory in China)."
- Robertson L (March 2, 2023). ["Still No Determination on COVID-19 Origin"](https://www.factcheck.org/2023/03/scicheck-still-no-determination-on-covid-19-origin/). *FactCheck.org*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "most scientists suspect a zoonotic spillover in which the virus transferred from bats, or through an intermediate animal, to humans – the same way the SARS and MERS coronaviruses originated."
- Gajilan AC (September 19, 2021). ["Covid-19 origins: Why the search for the source is vital"](https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/19/health/covid-19-origins-documentary/index.html). CNN. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "The zoonotic hypothesis hinges on the idea that the virus spilled over from animals to humans, either directly through a bat, or through some other intermediary animal. Most scientists say that this is the likely origin, given that 75% of all emerging diseases have jumped from animals into humans."
- McDonald J (June 28, 2021). ["Where Did COVID-19 Start? The Facts and Mysteries of Its Origin"](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/fact-check-the-facts-and-gaps-on-the-origin-of-the-coronavirus/2668053/). *NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "The default answer for most scientists has been that the virus, SARS-CoV-2, probably made the jump to humans from bats, if it was a direct spillover – or, more likely, through one or more intermediate mammals."
- McKeever A (April 6, 2021). ["We still don't know the origins of the coronavirus. Here are 4 scenarios"](https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/we-still-dont-know-the-origins-of-the-coronavirus-here-are-4). *National Geographic*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "The most controversial hypothesis for the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is also the one that most scientists agree is the least likely: that the virus somehow leaked out of a laboratory in Wuhan where researchers study bat coronaviruses."
- Ball P. ["Three years on, Covid lab-leak theories aren't going away. This is why"](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/60415/three-years-on-covid-lab-leak-theories-arent-going-away.-this-is-why). *prospectmagazine.co.uk*. "The leading theory now backed by most scientists is that the virus arose in wild bats and found its way into animals (perhaps via a pangolin or a civet cat) sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan."
- Jackson C (September 21, 2020). ["Controversy Aside, Why the Source of COVID-19 Matters"](https://www.genengnews.com/insights/controversy-aside-why-the-source-of-covid-19-matters/). *GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "Most scientists studying the origins of COVID-19 have concluded that the SARS-CoV-2 virus probably evolved naturally and infected humans via incidental contact with a wild or domesticated animal."
- McCarthy S (September 16, 2021). ["Bat-human virus spillovers may be very common, study finds"](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3149026/its-only-matter-time-bat-human-virus-spillovers-may-be-very). *South China Morning Post*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "Questions have been raised about whether the virus could have leaked from a laboratory studying related viruses in Wuhan – a scenario most scientists...feel is less likely than a natural spillover."
- Danner C (May 26, 2021). ["Biden Joins the COVID Lab-Leak-Theory Debate"](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/05/latest-developments-in-the-covid-lab-leak-hypothesis-debate.html). *Intelligencer*. Retrieved May 24, 2023. "There continues to be no evidence at all for the conspiracy theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was developed as some kind of bioweapon, and most scientists believe that the majority of available evidence indicates the virus jumped from animal to human."
3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jiang-2022_3-6)
Jiang X, Wang R (August 25, 2022). ["Wildlife trade is likely the source of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 925–926\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..925J](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..925J). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.add8384](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.add8384). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36007033](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36007033). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [251843410](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:251843410). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221109115622/https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8384) from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
4. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-4)**
Zimmer C, Mueller B (February 26, 2022). ["New Research Points to Wuhan Market as Pandemic Origin"](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/26/science/covid-virus-wuhan-origins.html). *The New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230616143037/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/26/science/covid-virus-wuhan-origins.html) from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-5)**
Worobey M, Levy JI, Malpica Serrano L, Crits-Christoph A, Pekar JE, et al. (August 2022). ["The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348750). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 951–959\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..951W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..951W). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abp8715](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abp8715). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9348750](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348750). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35881010](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35881010).
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Pekar-2022_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Pekar-2022_6-1)
Pekar JE, Magee A, Parker E, Moshiri N, Izhikevich K, et al. (August 2022). ["The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. **377** (6609): 960–966\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Sci...377..960P](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Sci...377..960P). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abp8337](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abp8337). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9348752](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9348752). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35881005](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35881005).
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-WorobeyPekar_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-WorobeyPekar_7-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-WorobeyPekar_7-2)
There were two landmark origins studies published side-by-side in *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")* in July 2022:[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-4)
- Worobey et al. "The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan was the early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic"[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-5)
- Pekar et al. "The molecular epidemiology of multiple zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2".[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Pekar-2022-6)
8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-8)**
Alkhovsky S, Lenshin S, Romashin A, Vishnevskaya T, Vyshemirsky O, Bulycheva Y, Lvov D, Gitelman A (January 9, 2022). ["SARS-like Coronaviruses in Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus spp.) in Russia, 2020"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8779456). *Viruses*. **14** (1): 113. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3390/v14010113](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fv14010113). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8779456](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8779456). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35062318](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35062318).
9. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-9)**
Frazzini S, Amadori M, Turin L, Riva F (October 7, 2022). ["SARS CoV-2 infections in animals, two years into the pandemic"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9543933). *Archives of Virology*. **167** (12): 2503–2517\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1007/s00705-022-05609-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00705-022-05609-1). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9543933](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9543933). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36207554](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36207554).
10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-10)**
Fenollar F, Mediannikov O, Maurin M, Devaux C, Colson P, Levasseur A, Fournier PE, Raoult D (April 1, 2021). ["Mink, SARS-CoV-2, and the Human-Animal Interface"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8047314). *Frontiers in Microbiology*. **12** 663815. Frontiers Media SA. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3389/fmicb.2021.663815](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffmicb.2021.663815). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1664-302X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1664-302X). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8047314](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8047314). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33868218](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33868218).
11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-11)**
Zhao J, Cui W, Tian Bp (2020). ["The Potential Intermediate Hosts for SARS-CoV-2"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554366). *Frontiers in Microbiology*. **11** 580137. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3389/fmicb.2020.580137](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffmicb.2020.580137). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1664-302X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1664-302X). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7554366](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554366). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33101254](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33101254).
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Qiu X, Liu Y, Sha A (September 28, 2022). ["SARS-CoV-2 and natural infection in animals"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9538246). *Journal of Medical Virology*. **95** (1) jmv.28147. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1002/jmv.28147](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fjmv.28147). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9538246](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9538246). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36121159](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36121159).
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Gupta SK, Minocha R, Thapa PJ, Srivastava M, Dandekar T (August 14, 2022). ["Role of the Pangolin in Origin of SARS-CoV-2: An Evolutionary Perspective"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9408936). *International Journal of Molecular Sciences*. **23** (16): 9115. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3390/ijms23169115](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijms23169115). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9408936](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9408936). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36012377](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36012377).
14. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Intermediatehosts_14-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Intermediatehosts_14-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Intermediatehosts_14-2)
Suggestions for intermediate animal hosts between horseshoe bats (*Rhinolophus spp.*)[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-8) and humans have included:
- [Common raccoon dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raccoon_dog "Common raccoon dog") (*Nyctereutes procyonoides*)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-Jiang-2022-3)
- [American mink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_mink "American mink") (*Neogale vison*)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-9)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-10)
- [Sunda pangolin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunda_pangolin "Sunda pangolin") (*Manis javanica*)[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-11)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_note-13)
15. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2021_15-8)
Holmes EC, Goldstein SA, Rasmussen AL, Robertson DL, Crits-Christoph A, et al. (September 2021). ["The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). *Cell* (Review). **184** (19): 4848–4856\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.cell.2021.08.017](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.cell.2021.08.017). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [8373617](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373617). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34480864](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34480864). "No epidemic has been caused by the escape of a novel virus ... Under any laboratory escape scenario, SARS-CoV-2 would have to have been present in a laboratory prior to the pandemic, yet no evidence exists to support such a notion and no sequence has been identified that could have served as a precursor."
16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Gorski-2021_16-6)
Gorski D (May 31, 2021). ["The origin of SARS-CoV-2, revisited"](https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-origin-of-sars-cov-2-revisited/). [Science-Based Medicine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science-Based_Medicine "Science-Based Medicine"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210601072923/https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-origin-of-sars-cov-2-revisited/) from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021. "The second \[version of the lab leak\] is the version that "reasonable" people consider plausible, but there is no good evidence for either version."
17. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2022_17-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2022_17-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Holmes-2022_17-2)
Holmes EC (August 14, 2022). ["The COVID lab leak theory is dead. Here's how we know the virus came from a Wuhan market"](https://theconversation.com/the-covid-lab-leak-theory-is-dead-heres-how-we-know-the-virus-came-from-a-wuhan-market-188163). *The Conversation*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220904005528/https://theconversation.com/the-covid-lab-leak-theory-is-dead-heres-how-we-know-the-virus-came-from-a-wuhan-market-188163) from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022. "For the lab leak theory to be true, SARS-CoV-2 must have been present in the Wuhan Institute of Virology before the pandemic started. This would convince me. But the inconvenient truth is there's not a single piece of data suggesting this. There's no evidence for a genome sequence or isolate of a precursor virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Not from gene sequence databases, scientific publications, annual reports, student theses, social media, or emails. Even the intelligence community has found nothing. Nothing. And there was no reason to keep any work on a SARS-CoV-2 ancestor secret before the pandemic."
18. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-SMH-2023_18-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-SMH-2023_18-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-SMH-2023_18-2)
Mannix L (June 27, 2023). ["COVID-19 lab leak theory ends with a whimper, not a bang"](https://www.smh.com.au/national/covid-19-lab-leak-theory-ends-with-a-whimper-not-a-bang-20230627-p5djqb.html). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald "The Sydney Morning Herald")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230807022109/https://www.smh.com.au/national/covid-19-lab-leak-theory-ends-with-a-whimper-not-a-bang-20230627-p5djqb.html) from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
19. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Lewandowsky-2023_19-7)
Lewandowsky S, Jacobs PH, Neil S (2023). "Chapter 2: Leak or Leap? Evidence and Cognition Surrounding the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus". In Butter M, Knight P (eds.). *Covid Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective*. Taylor & Francis. pp. 26–39\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.4324/9781003330769](https://doi.org/10.4324%2F9781003330769). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-032-35943-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-032-35943-4 "Special:BookSources/978-1-032-35943-4")
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20. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Garry-2022_20-3)
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21. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2022_21-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2022_21-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2022_21-2)
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22. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021a_22-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021a_22-1)
Maxmen A, Mallapaty S (June 8, 2021). "The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don't know". *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **594** (7863): 313–315\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.594..313M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594..313M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-01529-3](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01529-3). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34108722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34108722). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235395594](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235395594).
23. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Dyer-2021_23-3)
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24. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Jacobsen-2021_24-4)
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Kessler G (May 25, 2021). ["Timeline: How the Wuhan lab-leak theory suddenly became credible"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/25/timeline-how-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-suddenly-became-credible/). *[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post "The Washington Post")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210725060238/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/25/timeline-how-wuhan-lab-leak-theory-suddenly-became-credible/) from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
29. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Bandeira-2021_29-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Bandeira-2021_29-1)
Bandeira L, Aleksejeva N, Knight T, Le Roux J. [*Weaponized: How Rumors About COVID-19's Origins Led To a Narrative Arms Race*](https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Weaponized-How-rumors-about-COVID-19s-origins-led-to-a-narrative-arms-race.pdf) (PDF). The Atlantic Council. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220426002753/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Weaponized-How-rumors-about-COVID-19s-origins-led-to-a-narrative-arms-race.pdf) (PDF) from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
30. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-30)**
Wallace-Wells B (May 27, 2021). ["The Sudden Rise of the Coronavirus Lab-Leak Theory"](https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/the-sudden-rise-of-the-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory). *The New Yorker*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220218083352/https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/the-sudden-rise-of-the-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory) from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
31. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-31)**
Ruwitch J (March 31, 2021). ["Theory That COVID Came From A Chinese Lab Takes On New Life In Wake Of WHO Report"](https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983156340/theory-that-covid-came-from-a-chinese-lab-takes-on-new-life-in-wake-of-who-repor). NPR. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211202155833/https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983156340/theory-that-covid-came-from-a-chinese-lab-takes-on-new-life-in-wake-of-who-repor) from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
32. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Frutos-2021_32-7)
Frutos R, Gavotte L, Devaux CA (March 2021). ["Understanding the origin of COVID-19 requires to change the paradigm on zoonotic emergence from the spillover to the circulation model"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). *[Infection, Genetics and Evolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infection,_Genetics_and_Evolution "Infection, Genetics and Evolution")*. **95** 104812. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021InfGE..9504812F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021InfGE..9504812F). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.meegid.2021.104812](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.meegid.2021.104812). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7969828](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33744401](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33744401). "The origin of SARS-Cov-2 is still passionately debated since it makes ground for geopolitical confrontations and conspiracy theories besides scientific ones...The marginal conspiracy theory of a voluntary released of an engineered virus forwarded by the press, blogs and politicians is not supported by any data."
33. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-33)**
["Covid origin: Why the Wuhan lab-leak theory is being taken seriously"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57268111). *BBC News*. May 27, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210630155548/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57268111) from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
34. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Thacker-2021_34-4)
Thacker PD (July 8, 2021). ["The covid-19 lab leak hypothesis: Did the media fall victim to a misinformation campaign?"](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.n1656). *BMJ*. **374** n1656. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1136/bmj.n1656](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmj.n1656). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34244293](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34244293). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235760734](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235760734).
35. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Miller-2021_35-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Miller-2021_35-1)
Miller J, Nebehay S (March 31, 2021). ["Data withheld from WHO team probing COVID-19 origins in China: Tedros"](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-china-report-idUSKBN2BM26S). *[Reuters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters "Reuters")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210731031020/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-china-report-idUSKBN2BM26S) from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
36. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-36)**
Moritsugu K (July 22, 2021). ["China rebuffs WHO's terms for further COVID-19 origins study"](https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d). *[Associated Press News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press_News "Associated Press News")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210905222234/https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d) from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021. "Zeng ... added that speculation that staff and graduate students at the lab had been infected and might have started the spread of the virus in the city was untrue."
37. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Consensus_37-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Consensus_37-1)
See, for example, the following:
News sources describing this as a majority view:
- Maxmen A, Mallapaty S (June 8, 2021). "The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don't know". *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **594** (7863): 313–315\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.594..313M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594..313M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-01529-3](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01529-3). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34108722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34108722). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235395594](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235395594).
- ["The 'Occam's Razor Argument' Has Not Shifted in Favor of a Lab Leak"](https://www.snopes.com/news/2021/07/16/lab-leak-evidence/). *Snopes.com*. July 16, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210806232617/https://www.snopes.com/news/2021/07/16/lab-leak-evidence/) from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021. "Shi's team concluded that SARS-CoV-2 was 79% identical to SARS-CoV-1 and 96% identical to a virus her team had sampled from bats in a mineshaft in 2013. This information formed the basis of the widely accepted conclusion that SARS-CoV-2's ancestor was a bat virus."
- Ling J (June 15, 2021). ["The Lab Leak Theory Doesn't Hold Up"](https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/15/lab-leak-theory-doesnt-hold-up-covid-china/). *Foreign Policy*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210701220552/https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/06/15/lab-leak-theory-doesnt-hold-up-covid-china/) from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021. "Over the past year, I've spoken with a slew of researchers, scientists, and public health experts: Their takes on the origins of COVID-19 generally fall into two camps. Most say that the virus is very likely natural and that theories around the Wuhan Institute of Virology are a possible explanation, but they're unlikely. The other group, a minority, says both theories are more or less equally valid and that the lab leak theory is in desperate need of more study."
- Sohn R (June 3, 2021). ["A Very Calm Guide to the Lab Leak Theory"](https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/lab-leak-theory-questions-explainer.html). *Slate*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210803165903/https://slate.com/technology/2021/06/lab-leak-theory-questions-explainer.html) from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021. "Most experts still tend to think the virus has a natural origin."
Academic review articles which describe this as the mainstream view:
- Adil MT, Rahman R, Whitelaw D, Jain V, Al-Taan O, Rashid F, Munasinghe A, Jambulingam P (February 2021). ["SARS-CoV-2 and the pandemic of COVID-19"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10016996). *Postgraduate Medical Journal*. **97** (1144): 110–116\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138386](https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fpostgradmedj-2020-138386). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10016996](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10016996). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [32788312](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32788312). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [221124011](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:221124011). "the findings suggest that the laboratory incident hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain introduction of the virus into the human population"
- Barh D, Silva Andrade B, Tiwari S, Giovanetti M, Góes-Neto A, Alcantara LC, Azevedo V, Ghosh P (September 2020). "Natural selection versus creation: a review on the origin of SARS-COV-2". *Le Infezioni in Medicina* (in Italian). **28** (3): 302–311\. [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [32920565](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32920565). "Conspiracy theories about a possible accidental leak from either of these laboratories known to be experimenting with bats and bat CoVs that has shown some structural similarity to human SARS-CoV-2 has been suggested, but largely dismissed by most authorities."
- Graham RL, Baric RS (May 2020). ["SARS-CoV-2: Combating Coronavirus Emergence"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7207110). *Immunity*. **52** (5): 734–736\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.immuni.2020.04.016](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.immuni.2020.04.016). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7207110](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7207110). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [32392464](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32392464). "the available data argue overwhelmingly against any scientific misconduct or negligence"
- Hakim MS (February 2021). ["SARS-CoV-2, Covid-19, and the debunking of conspiracy theories"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7995093). *Reviews in Medical Virology*. **31** (6) e2222. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1002/rmv.2222](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Frmv.2222). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7995093](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7995093). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33586302](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33586302). "Despite these massive online speculations, scientific evidence does not support this accusation of laboratory release theory..."
- Frutos R, Gavotte L, Devaux CA (March 2021). ["Understanding the origin of COVID-19 requires to change the paradigm on zoonotic emergence from the spillover to the circulation model"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). *Infection, Genetics and Evolution*. **95** 104812. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021InfGE..9504812F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021InfGE..9504812F). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.meegid.2021.104812](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.meegid.2021.104812). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [7969828](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7969828). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33744401](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33744401).
38. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Mallapaty-2021_38-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Mallapaty-2021_38-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Mallapaty-2021_38-2)
Mallapaty S (April 15, 2021). ["After the WHO report: what's next in the search for COVID's origins"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-00877-4). *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **592** (7854): 337–338\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.592..337M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.592..337M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-00877-4](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-00877-4). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [33790440](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33790440). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [232481786](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:232481786).
39. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-39)**
Zimmer C, Gorman J, Mueller B (May 27, 2021). ["Scientists Don't Want to Ignore the 'Lab Leak' Theory, Despite No New Evidence"](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/health/wuhan-coronavirus-lab-leak.html). *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210601014408/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/27/health/wuhan-coronavirus-lab-leak.html) from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
40. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Maxmen-2021b_40-5)
Maxmen A (June 3, 2021). ["Divisive COVID 'lab leak' debate prompts dire warnings from researchers"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01383-3). *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **594** (7861): 15–16\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2021Natur.594...15M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021Natur.594...15M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-021-01383-3](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-021-01383-3). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [34045757](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34045757). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [235232290](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235232290).
41. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-41)**
Jacobsen R (May 13, 2021). ["Top researchers are calling for a real investigation into the origin of covid-19"](https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/13/1024866/investigation-covid-origin-wuhan-china-lab-biologists-letter/). *[MIT Technology Review](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIT_Technology_Review "MIT Technology Review")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210804084853/https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/13/1024866/investigation-covid-origin-wuhan-china-lab-biologists-letter/) from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021. "The lab leak hypothesis has already become highly political. In the US, it has been embraced most loudly by Republican lawmakers and conservative media figures... The resulting polarization has had a chilling effect on scientists, some of whom have been reluctant to express their own concerns, says Relman."
42. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-42)**
Maxmen A (February 27, 2022). ["Wuhan market was epicentre of pandemic's start, studies suggest"](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-022-00584-8). *[Nature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_\(journal\) "Nature (journal)")*. **603** (7899): 15–16\. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2022Natur.603...15M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022Natur.603...15M). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1038/d41586-022-00584-8](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fd41586-022-00584-8). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [35228730](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35228730). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [247168739](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:247168739).
43. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Alwine-2023_43-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-Alwine-2023_43-1)
Alwine JC, Casadevall A, Enquist LW, Goodrum FD, Imperiale MJ (March 2023). ["A critical analysis of the evidence for the SARS-CoV-2 origin hypotheses"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10117112). *mSphere*. **8** (2) e0036523. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1128/msphere.00119-23](https://doi.org/10.1128%2Fmsphere.00119-23). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10117112](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10117112). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [36897078](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36897078). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [257429130](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:257429130).
44. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-n542_44-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-n542_44-1)
Yoo JH (2025). ["On the Controversies Surrounding the *Lab-Leak* Theory of COVID-19"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040609). *Journal of Korean Medical Science*. **40** (16) e153. XMLink. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.3346/jkms.2025.40.e153](https://doi.org/10.3346%2Fjkms.2025.40.e153). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1011-8934](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1011-8934). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [12040609](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12040609). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [40296830](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40296830). "Given the Chinese government's early actions—such as suppressing information, delaying disclosure of critical data, and silencing Chinese medical professionals—skepticism toward its transparency and credibility is not entirely unfounded. This lack of transparency severely hindered an objective investigation into the origin of the virus and fueled the spread of the lab-leak or intentional manipulation hypotheses."
45. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory#cite_ref-c486_45-0)**
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Cohen J (August 27, 2021). ["COVID-19's origins still uncertain, U.S. intelligence agencies conclude"](https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-s-origins-still-uncertain-us-intelligence-agencies-conclude). *[Science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_\(journal\) "Science (journal)")*. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1126/science.abm1388](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.abm1388). [S2CID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S2CID_\(identifier\) "S2CID (identifier)") [240981726](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:240981726). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210831193701/https://www.science.org/content/article/covid-19-s-origins-still-uncertain-us-intelligence-agencies-conclude) from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021. "The first, and most important, takeaway is that the IC is 'divided on the most likely origin' of the pandemic coronavirus and that both hypotheses are 'plausible.'"
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Further reading
- Kim JH, Park J (2023). ["Perceived China Threat, Conspiracy Belief, and Public Support for Restrictive Immigration Control During the COVID-19 Pandemic"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9561504). *Race and Justice*. **13** (1): 130–152\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1177/21533687221125818](https://doi.org/10.1177%2F21533687221125818). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [9561504](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9561504).
- Komesaroff PA, Dwyer DE (September 2023). ["The Question of the Origins of COVID-19 and the Ends of Science"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10942872). *J Bioeth Inq*. **20** (4): 575–583\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1007/s11673-023-10303-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11673-023-10303-1). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10942872](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10942872). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [37697176](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37697176).
- Zhu AL, Chen R, Rizzolo J, Qian J (June 2023). ["Perceptions of COVID-19 origins and China's wildlife policy reforms"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10076075). *Glob Ecol Conserv*. **43** e02463. [Bibcode](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibcode_\(identifier\) "Bibcode (identifier)"):[2023GEcoC..4302463Z](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023GEcoC..4302463Z). [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02463](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.gecco.2023.e02463). [PMC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMC_\(identifier\) "PMC (identifier)") [10076075](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10076075). [PMID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PMID_\(identifier\) "PMID (identifier)") [37069900](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37069900).
External links
- [Declassified report from the National Intelligence Council](https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Declassified-Assessment-on-COVID-19-Origins.pdf) ([Executive summary](https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Unclassified-Summary-of-Assessment-on-COVID-19-Origins.pdf))
- [*The Origins of COVID-19: an investigation of the Wuhan Institute of Virology*](https://gop-foreignaffairs.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ORIGINS-OF-COVID-19-REPORT.pdf) – report by [US House Foreign Affairs Committee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Foreign_Affairs "United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs") Minority Staff
- [World Health Organisation report on the origins of COVID-19](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-convened-global-study-of-origins-of-sars-cov-2-china-part)
Articles
- Holmes, Eddie. [The COVID ‘lab leak theory’ is dead](https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/the-covid-lab-leak-theory-is-dead): Researchers have confirmed the virus came from a Wuhan wet market. August 15, 2022. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners website.
- Moore, John. [The coronavirus lab leak hypothesis is damaging science](https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/02/coronavirus-lab-leak-hypothesis-damages-science/), August 2, 2024, Statnews website.
- Qiu, Jane. [Meet the scientist at the center of the covid lab leak controversy](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/02/09/1044985/shi-zhengli-covid-lab-leak-wuhan/), February 9, 2022, MIT Technology Review. June 8, 2021
- Maxmen, Amy. [The COVID lab-leak hypothesis: what scientists do and don’t know](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01529-3): Nature examines arguments that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a lab in China, and the science behind them. By Amy Maxmen & Smriti Mallapaty. June 8, 2021, Nature Magazine. |
| Shard | 152 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 17790707453426894952 |
| Unparsed URL | org,wikipedia!en,/wiki/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory s443 |