China says WHO consultants to probe Covid-19 origins throughout long-awaited mission – Thebritishjournal

The WHO team “will conduct joint research cooperation on the origins of Covid-19 with Chinese scientists,” the National Health Commission said in a statement.

The long-awaited mission — which has been under discussion since last year — is of great political significance at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has devastated major countries worldwide, caused almost two million deaths and brought the global economy to a standstill.

A last-minute delay to the mission earlier this month earned China a rare rebuke from the head of the WHO.

#COVID19 confirmed cases and deaths reported by countries and areas in the @WHO Western Pacific Region over the past 72 hours.

For more info on #coronavirus cases in the Region, go to our dashboard: https://t.co/qQ2L14iMqi (1/5) pic.twitter.com/uj8ddhVZOU

— World Health Organization Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) January 11, 2021

The team of WHO experts will be expected to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival in China, and are expected to visit Wuhan — the city where a deadly virus cluster first emerged late last year — in the course of their trip.

The US and Australia have led international calls for an enquiry into the origins of the pandemic, putting China under significant pressure amid growing calls for accountability.

Beijing has faced international criticism over its lack of transparency during the initial outbreak, while domestically the government has praised its own handling of the outbreak and stifled any criticisms.

(AFP)

China says WHO experts to probe Covid-19 origins during long-awaited mission The British Journal Editors and Wire Services/ France 24.

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