CIA changes its mind about the causes of Covid 19
The CIA has changed its mind about the causes of the coronavirus epidemic. According to the New York Times, American intelligence services are now leaning towards a coronavirus leak from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan.
For years, US intelligence agencies have been saying that they don't have enough information to draw a clear conclusion about the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are two main theories: the natural emergence of the virus at a Wuhan market or an accidental leak from a Wuhan research laboratory.
But, according to the New York Times, the CIA released a new assessment this week in which analysts lean towards the laboratory leak theory. Unnamed officials told the newspaper that this change in position was not due to new information. However, the analysis is based, in part, on a study of conditions in Wuhan's high-security laboratories before the pandemic.
The CIA spokesman said that the other theory (the market theory) remained likely, and that the agency would therefore continue to evaluate any new reliable information that became available.
New CIA Director John Ratcliffe, recently confirmed by the Senate, has long favored the laboratory leak theory, but the change in the administration's position is not related to this theory. The new assessment has been in the works for some time, officials said.
(MH with D. Rodriguez/Source: New York Times/Photo: Unsplash)