Chinese State-funded broadcaster, CGTN, produced this report on the origins of the novel coronavirus, and explored several current theories:
The origin of the novel coronavirus remains unconfirmed. But there are multiple speculations. Was it leaked by a lab? Or was it a man-made bioweapon? CGTN’s Cui Hui’ao walks us through some of these theories. #coronavirus
CGTN YouTube Channel
The theories which are explored include that the virus:
- came from a lab in Wuhan;
- that it originated in a seafood market; and
- that it was deliberately man-made.
These three appear to be debunked, based on widely accepted scientific evidence, and indeed, the strain first reported on December 26th, is said by a University of Cambridge, UK, researcher, Peter Forster, to have been itself from a virus which spread from bats between September and early December 2019, as referenced in this previous report.
Forster’s research is peer reviewed, and suggests that the first Italian case came via Germany, on or around 25 January 2020 – from China.
The general consensus appears to be that the virus did likely originate in China, but probably some weeks before the first case which was reported in late December, and perhaps not even in Wuhan itself.