WHO-led team expected in China in January to probe COVID-19 origins
An international mission led by the World Health Organization is expected to go to China in the first week of January to investigate the origins of the coronavirus, a WHO member said.
China reported the first cases of an unknown pneumonia in Wuhan to the WHO on December 31. Beijing has opposed calls for an international inquiry into the origins of the virus, but has been open to a WHO-led investigation.
“WHO continues to contact China and to discuss the international team and the places they visit. Our understanding at this time is that China is welcoming the international team and their visit…This is anticipated, as far as we are aware, to happen in early January”, Babatunde Olowokure, the WHO’s regional emergencies director in the Western Pacific, said on Thursday.
“China stands ready to enhance its cooperation with WHO to advance the global tracing efforts and contribute our share in our early victory against the pandemic”, said China’s foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.
More than 72.92 million people have been infected coronavirus globally and 1,641,733 have died, according to a recent tally. Infections have so far been reported in more than 210 countries.
