The Chinese laboratory accused of a possible source of COVID-19 has opened its doors to an American television team – to “100 percent” claim that the deadly global pandemic did not occur there.
NBC News said its crew spent nearly five hours at the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology that President Trump has suggested first spreading the pandemic that has now infected nearly 20 million people worldwide.
When the first Western media allowed, NBC’s tour included a close-up of the BSL-4 lab where technicians wear bubble-like protection packs while studying many of the most dangerous viruses in the world, including those – such as COVID-19 – thought to arise from bats.
Despite persistent conspiracy theories, the lab’s deputy director, Yuan Zhiming, said he knew “100 percent” that the pandemic was not leaking there.
He even claimed that no one connected to the lab had ever tested positive – even for antibodies to suggest they had ever been infected.
Yuan reiterated allegations that the lab first opposed the virus in late December when he asked to investigate the “pneumonia of unknown cause” that had already begun to spread in local hospitals.
“We have not encountered the new coronavirus before, and without this virus there is no way it will leak out of the lab,” he told NBC.
The lab will now “fully support” the World Health Organization, which has sent a team to China to interview scientists in Wuhan about the origins of the pandemic, lab director Wang Yanyi told NBC.
“It is unfortunate that we were created as scapegoats for the origin of the virus,” she said.
“Every person would feel unforgivably angry if misunderstood to be subjected to unjust or malicious accusations while conducting research and related work in the fight against the virus.”
Yuan, meanwhile, was shocked that the scandal had created “tension” between China and the US, saying it had “damaged the progress and stability of the world” and its scientific research.
“We have learned a lot from American scientists in terms of their scientific technology, spirit and relevant experience,” he told NBC.
“During this pandemic, I think we still have to believe in science, respect science and trust the scientists.”
Without lamenting direct claims to the lab, the U.S. State Department insisted to NBC that the “Chinese government still has enough data or samples to share with the international community.”
“We do not yet have the answers we need about a virus that has left 700,000 dead,” the department said.
“In order for the world to have these answers, Beijing must provide open and transparent access to complete information needed to provide a full understanding of the origin of the virus.”
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