Recently recovered Chinese security data revealed that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) bought a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine in 2019 to test coronaviruses.
This revelation presents evidence that the pandemic began with a virus that was engineered by researchers at the lab, who were partly funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) headed by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The report regarding the purchase of the PCR machine coincides with the intelligence that researchers from the Wuhan lab became sick with COVID-like symptoms and sought hospital care in November 2019.
Sky News Australia reporter Sharri Markson, who discovered there was a "buy up" in Wuhan for the PCR equipment, asked former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe if he was aware of the purchase. However, Ratcliffe, who served under the Trump administration during the first year of the pandemic, said that he wouldn't be able to comment on the statement.
Ratcliffe said there is compelling evidence that supports the lab-leak theory, which is not in the public domain. He also said that releasing more information will create additional pressure on Chinese communist authorities and others who continue to deny China's contribution to the problem.
Pompeo says there is "enormous" evidence of lab leak
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that there was "enormous, albeit indirect, evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the center point" of the pandemic.
He said that there were 14 American diplomats on the ground in Wuhan at the time who were watching and observing what was taking place in the lab. The World Health Organization was also unwilling to stand up to China, and failed at the task it was created for -- which is to prevent a global pandemic. (Related: Virus expert at Wuhan lab denies COVID-19 lab leak theory.)
Pompeo also said that the cover-up showed the absolute absence of humanity of China's leaders. "They are prepared to let millions of people die if that's what it takes to protect their regime."
Among others, Markson also explored the close ties of the lab to the Chinese military and the possibility that China was working on a bioweapon or a defense against one.
David Asher, who led the early investigation of the pandemic's origins said that lab workers became ill with COVID symptoms, and believes a bioweapon can be released accidentally, adding that U.S. intelligence agencies had information early in the outbreak, which could have prevented the pandemic.
Markson also broke the story of Wei Jingsheng, a Chinese dissident who fled to the U.S. and maintains high-level contacts in China. Wei said that he was informed of the coronavirus spreading in Wuhan at the time of the World Military Games in October 2019, six weeks before Beijing admitted to an outbreak.
Virologists reconsider lab accident origins of COVID-19
Multiple investigations showed few definitive conclusions about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. As infection rates and deaths continue in many developed countries, the Chinese government's lack of cooperation in the investigations prompted some of the world's leading virologists to reconsider the possibility of the pandemic being caused by a lab accident.
Among the pieces of circumstantial evidence that could support the lab-leak theory is the fact that the Wuhan lab has conducted controversial types of scientific research in the past.
WHO adviser Jamie Metzl said that they were doing gain-of-function research, which involves enhancing certain aspects of an organism. This is particularly common in some fields to study genetic variations and to better understand biological entities. However, its use to enhance the lethality or transmissibility of a virus remains controversial.
Dr. Charles Calisher, a virologist from the Colorado State University, said that there is too much coincidence to ignore the lab-leak theory, adding that the COVID-19 virus is likely to have come out of the Wuhan lab.
Learn more possible theories as to where the COVID-19 virus came from at Pandemic.news.
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