The World Health Organization (WHO) has renewed its call for China to release data on COVID-19, five years after the virus first emerged in Wuhan.
On December 31, 2019, the WHO’s China office reported a cluster of pneumonia cases identified by health authorities in Wuhan. Just over three weeks later, Chinese officials imposed a lockdown on the city of 11 million people.
Despite these measures, the coronavirus had already spread beyond China’s borders, sparking fears of a global health crisis.
Now, five years later, much of the world has moved on from the pandemic, which brought about widespread lockdowns and restrictive measures aimed at containing the virus. However, the WHO remains without crucial data on the pandemic that killed over seven million people, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and disrupted the global economy.
Experts suggest that China’s lack of transparency has significantly hindered efforts to trace the origins of the pandemic.
The WHO in a recent statement echoed its call to China to release the data saying, “We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of COVID-19. This is a moral and scientific imperative; without transparency, sharing, and cooperation among countries, the world cannot adequately prevent or prepare for future epidemics and pandemics.”
Reports indicate that China’s Foreign Ministry responded to the WHO on Tuesday to defend its handling of COVID-19 data during a routine press briefing.
“On the issue of COVID-19 origin tracing, China has always adhered to the spirit of science, openness, and transparency,” said Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry. “China has actively supported and participated in global scientific efforts and has consistently opposed any form of political manipulation.”
Mao also stated, “China has shared the most data and research results on COVID-19 origins and has made significant contributions to global research efforts.”
