Coronavirus lab leak theory "extremely unlikely," says WHO

The WHO has said that the results would be ready in a few days that had concluded more than six weeks ago.

According to a joint WHO-China study on the origins of COVID-19, the virus was transmitted from bats to humans via another animal and the leakage from a lab in China was "extremely unlikely," the Associated Press reported on Monday. The findings were similar to what researchers had said last month but left many questions unanswered. The team proposed further research in every area except the lab leak hypothesis, the report added, citing a draft copy obtained by the Associated Press.

Reportedly, the release of the report was delayed which raised questions about whether the Chinese side was trying to divert blame for the pandemic. The WHO has said that the results would be ready in a few days that had concluded more than six weeks ago.

The draft report obtained by the AP has more evidence of the virus being transmitted from the bats to humans via another animal than two other controversial hypotheses. The other two hypotheses that have been explored are- pandemic that resulted from the laboratory leakage by accident and introduction of the virus by contaminated food or its packaging. The US government has criticized the report by saying whether the WHO researchers and experts were given enough access to reach a reliable conclusion.