On Tuesday, China‘s foreign ministry asserted that the nation has provided the most comprehensive COVID-19 data and research findings to the international community. This statement follows the World Health Organization’s renewed appeal for increased information and access regarding the pandemic.
During a regular news conference, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, stated that China is the sole nation that has coordinated with experts to share advancements in traceability with the World Health Organization on multiple occasions.
On Monday, the World Health Organization reiterated its request that China provide data and access to aid in investigating the origins of COVID-19, which was first identified in central China five years earlier.
The World Health Organization reports that more than 760 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally, resulting in approximately 6.9 million deaths. In mid-2023, officials announced the conclusion of COVID-19 as a public health emergency while emphasizing that the disease serves as a lasting reminder of the threat posed by emerging viruses that can have catastrophic effects.
In early 2023, Chinese scientists uploaded data from the initial stages of the pandemic to an international database. This action came just months after China lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and reopened its borders to the global community.
Recent data indicates that environmental samples testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, contained DNA from various animal species, notably raccoon dogs. International researchers reported that these animals may have served as “the most likely conduits” for the disease.
In 2021, a team organized by the World Health Organization dedicated several weeks to investigating the virus’s origins in and around Wuhan. The initial cases were identified in this city. Their findings suggested that the virus likely made the leap from bats to humans via an intermediary animal, although they emphasized the necessity for additional research to confirm these conclusions.
China has stated that no further visits are required and that investigations into early cases should occur in other countries.
Mao stated that China has provided the most data and research findings regarding COVID-19 traceability, highlighting the country’s significant contribution to global efforts in this area.
“International experts from the WHO have consistently stated that during their visit to China, they could access all the locations they intended to visit and engage with all the individuals they aimed to meet.”
