Residents of Wuhan on Saturday (January 2) welcomed a visit to the World Health Organization to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, more than a year after the first identified group of infection was linked to a seafood market in the Chinese city.
An international team of investigators is expected to travel to China in January to examine evidence gathered by Chinese researchers and build on their initial studies.
Beijing strongly opposed calls for an international investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, but said it was open to a WTO-led investigation.
Locals welcomed the visit, saying they hoped it would help explain the origins of the disease, which has infected more than 84 million people around the world.
“I think it’s a good thing in general. After all, we’re not afraid of the investigation. If they find out that the virus is from Wuhan, we will not cover it up. Or if they find out that it is not its origin; from here we are not justified. ‘
China continues to restrict access to places such as the Huanan seafood market, which is empty and closed, despite normal life largely resumed in Wuhan.
Beijing also cited a statement that the virus existed abroad before it was found in Wuhan, and unlike other countries, it cites the packaging of frozen foods as a risk of spreading COVID-19.
Video transcription
– Residents of Wuhan on Saturday welcomed the forthcoming visit by the World Health Organization to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, more than a year after the first identified group of infections was linked to a seafood market in the Chinese city. An international team of investigators is expected to travel to China in January to examine evidence gathered by Chinese researchers and build on their initial studies.
Beijing strongly opposed calls for an international inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus, but said it was open to a WHO-led investigation. Locals welcomed the visit, saying they hoped it would help explain the origins of the disease, which has infected more than 84 million people around the world.
– [SPEAKING CHINESE]
INTERPRETER: I think that’s a good thing in general. After all, we are not afraid of the investigation. If they find out that the virus is from Wuhan, we will not cover it up, or if they find out that it is not from here, we will be confirmed.
– China continues to restrict access to places such as the Huanan seafood market, which is empty and closed, despite the normal life that has largely resumed in Wuhan.
Beijing also cited a narrative that the virus existed abroad before it was found in Wuhan, and unlike other countries, cites the packaging of frozen foods as a risk of spreading COVID-19.