COVID-19 Investigation

Extracted Attributes

• Allegation

  COVID Cover Up

• Primary Goal

  Determine the origin of SARS-CoV-2

• Alternative Theory

  Laboratory leak (not supported by evidence)

• Alleged Obstruction

  Attempts to evade Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests

• Alleged Cover-Up Leader

  Anthony Fauci

• Investigation Challenge

  China hindering global investigation

• Key Finding (July 2022)

  Pandemic likely began at Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market

• Research Under Scrutiny

  NIH funding of Gain-Of-Function Research at Wuhan Institute of Virology

• Initial Cluster Location

  Wuhan, China

• Likely Spillover Event Date

  Late 2019

• Evidence Cited in Allegations

  Furan cleavage site

• Scientific Consensus on Origin

  Natural zoonotic transmission from bats, likely via an intermediate animal host

Timeline

• First known cluster of COVID-19 cases arising in Wuhan, China, with the spillover event likely occurring no later than November 2019. (Source: Wikipedia, web_search_results)

  2019-12-01

• WHO COVID-19 Research Database began spanning content from this period. (Source: web_search_results)

  2020-03-01

• Two papers published in Science described novel epidemiological and genetic evidence suggesting the pandemic likely began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2022-07-01

• WHO COVID-19 Research Database content spanned up to this period. (Source: web_search_results)

  2023-06-30

• WHO COVID-19 Research Database became no longer searchable. (Source: web_search_results)

  2024-01-01

Origin of SARS-CoV-2

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been efforts by scientists, governments, and others to determine the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Similar to other outbreaks, the virus was derived from a bat-borne virus and most likely was transmitted to humans via another animal in nature, or during wildlife bushmeat trade such as that in food markets. While other explanations, such as speculations that SARS-CoV-2 was accidentally released from a laboratory have been proposed, such explanations are not supported by evidence. Conspiracy theories about the virus's origin have proliferated widely. Research is ongoing as to whether SARS-CoV-2 came directly from bats or indirectly through an intermediate host, such as pangolins, civets, or raccoon dogs. Genomic sequence evidence indicates the spillover event introducing SARS-CoV-2 to humans likely occurred in late 2019. As with the 2002–2004 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak, efforts to trace the specific geographic and taxonomic origins of SARS-CoV-2 could take years, and results may be inconclusive. In July 2022, two papers published in Science described novel epidemiological and genetic evidence that suggested the pandemic likely began at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and did not come from a laboratory.

Web Search Results

• [PDF] Unclassified Summary of Assessment on COVID-19 Origins - DNI.gov

  conclusive assessment of the origins of COVID-19. Beijing, however, continues to hinder the global investigation, resist sharing information and blame other countries, including the United States. These actions reflect, in part, China’s government’s own uncertainty about where an investigation could lead as well as its frustration the international community is using the issue to exert political pressure on China. [...] UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Key Takeaways The IC assesses that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, probably emerged and infected humans through an initial small-scale exposure that occurred no later than November 2019 with the first known cluster of COVID-19 cases arising in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In addition, the IC was able to reach broad agreement on several other key issues. We judge the virus was not developed as a biological weapon. Most agencies also assess with low

• FINAL REPORT: COVID Select Concludes 2-Year Investigation ...

  HEALTHCARE IMPACTS: America’s healthcare system was severely damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients experienced a decreased quality-of-care, longer wait times, shorter medical appointments, and missed diagnoses. WORKER IMPACTS: Unemployment rates surged to levels not seen since the Great Depression. Overly broad mitigation measures — including the now debunked “6 feet apart” guidance — disproportionately impacted sectors with low wage earners. [...] FINAL REPORT: COVID Select Concludes 2-Year Investigation, Issues 500+ Page Final Report on Lessons Learned and the Path Forward - United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Skip to main content Image 1: Site logoToggle navigation Search About Chairman James Comer Full Committee Rules Committee Activity Calendar Hearings Letters Markups Reports Forums Roundtables [...] TRANSNATIONAL FRAUD: At least half of the taxpayer dollars lost in COVID-19 relief programs were stolen by international fraudsters. COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING OVERSIGHT: Expanding relief programs that lacked proper oversight functions exposed severe vulnerabilities in the system and paved the way for fraudsters, international criminals, and foreign adversaries to take advantage of taxpayers.

• Global research on coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

  R&D Blueprint International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) COVID-19 Emergency Use Listing Procedure Regulatory update on COVID-19 Unity Studies: Early Investigation Protocols Regions Africa Americas Eastern Mediterranean Europe South-East Asia Western Pacific Policies Cybersecurity Ethics Information disclosure Permissions and licensing Preventing sexual exploitation Terms of use [...] WHO COVID-19 Research Database [...] content spanned the time period March 2020 to June 2023. It has now been archived, and no longer searchable since January 2024.

• Surveillance and Data Analytics | COVID-19

  CDC uses genomic surveillance to identify and track SARS-CoV-2 variants. On This Page COVID-19 Surveillance Data in the United States Additional COVID-19 Data and Visualizations Related Pages Preliminary Estimates of COVID-19 Burden for 2024-2025 How CDC Estimates the Burden of COVID-19 in the US Vaccine Effectiveness Safety Precautions: Cleaning and Disinfecting for COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines View All COVID-19 [...] This page provides an overview of COVID-19 data and trends over time. Other COVID-19 related data visualizations (previously on CDC’s COVID Data Tracker) are provided in the resources section at the bottom of this page. COVID-19 Surveillance Data in the United States ### Early Indicators [...] ### COVID-19 Death Rates Additional COVID-19 Data and Visualizations COVID-NET COVID-NET monitors COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among children and adults in the U.S. COVIDVaxView Survey results at the national and state level monitoring COVID-19 vaccination uptake and confidence COVID-19 Data from the National Center for Health Statistics NCHS provides timely data on deaths, mental health, access to health care, telemedicine, and more NWSS Wastewater Monitoring in the U.S.

• COVID-19 Research and NICHD

  Frequently Asked Questions [...] 1. Home 2. Research 3. Supported Networks & Initiatives 4. COVID-19 Research and NICHD Share Facebook X Linkedin Instagram Copy/Paste Link_Copy Link_ Email Print and federal agencies; and initiated studies to help build a research base on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. [...] Research Research Research at NICHD Research at NICHD Division of Intramural Research (DIR) Women in Science Profiles Intramural Investigators Intramural Investigators Ajay Chitnis Lab Alan Hinnebusch Lab Alexander Sodt Lab Amir H. Gandjbakhche Lab Anirban Banerjee Lab Bioinformatics and Scientific Programming Core