Almost seven million people have died from Covid since the pandemic began in 2020, and many people like former President Donald Trump have made the Chinese government the scapegoat.
The U.S. Energy Department concluded the coronavirus probably originated in a lab, news outlets reported over the weekend, reviving the years-long debate over the origins of the virus.
Beijing accused the U.S. of politicizing origin-tracing efforts in order to “smear” China following reports another intelligence agency believes the virus escaped from a Chinese laboratory.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there is “not a definitive answer” on the virus’ origins, as two federal agencies say the virus likely emerged from a laboratory rather than through natural transmission.