Scientists exposed after previously denying COVID-19 lab leak theory

A group of scientists have been exposed privately discussing signs COVID-19 may have been genetically engineered despite publicly insisting a laboratory leak was a conspiracy theory. The University of Sydney’s Eddie Holmes publicly said in April 2020 there was “no evidence” SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans, originated from a laboratory in Wuhan. Sky News host Sharri Markson unveils emails subpoenaed by the US Congress which show Professor Holmes and his colleagues expressing private doubt over the claims. In a comment on messaging platform Slack, dated April 17, 2020, Professor Holmes wrote to his colleague Kristian Andersen: “Let’s face it, unless there is a whistleblower from the WIV (Wuhan Institute of Virology) who is doing (sic) to defect and live in the west under a new identity, we are NEVER going to know (what) happened in that lab. Never.” Mr Andersen expressed renewed concerns he was not convinced that cell culture in a laboratory wasn’t involved, while Professor Holmes still felt natural origins was “likely correct”. “Holmes’ central claim is that Wuhan Institute of Virology has no progenitor virus to SARS-CoV-2 … but declassified intelligence repeatedly said the Wuhan lab was working on top-secret projects that are not in the public domain,” Ms Markson said. “And we know the Wuhan Institute of Virology took its virus database offline in September 2019 and has never made it public, even to health officials trying to investigate the origins of the virus, including the World Health Organisation.” Professor Holmes stands by the conclusions made in the Proximal Origins paper.