India, on Friday, came out in favour of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global study on the origin of Covid-19 and termed it “an important first step” and stressed the need for next phase studies to reach robust conclusions.
“The WHO convened global study on the origin of Covid-19 is an important first step. It stressed the need for next phase studies as also for further data and studies to reach robust conclusions,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in their statement.
A WHO-led team had earlier spent four weeks in and around Wuhan in January and February and then WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the laboratory leak was the “least likely” hypotheses, but still needed “further investigation.
He also said that the United States would continue to put pressure on China to participate in transparent investigation besides providing access to all relevant data.
“It is critical that China provides independent experts full access to complete, original data and samples relevant to understanding the source of the virus and the early stages of the pandemic,” the US statement said.
