The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory.

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment that points the finger at China even while acknowledging that the spy agency has “low confidence” in its own conclusion.

The CIA investigated the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, and determined, with low confidence, the origin was likely a lab leak in China.

World: Covid-19 origin theory, Donald Trump's pick, John Ratcliffe, the new CIA chief, has been a long-time supporter of the lab leak theory.

China on Monday dismissed the lab leak theory on COVID-19 origins proposed by the CIA, calling it baseless and emphasizing the need for scientific investigation, state media reported.

In a fresh analysis, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said it believes that the Covid-19 virus ‘more likely’ leaked from a Chinese lab than transmitted by animals. The US intelligence agency has released the ’low confidence’ assessment under Trump-appointed CIA director John Ratcliffe,

The report was declassified and released on Saturday on the orders of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, John Ratcliffe.

Beijing insists that all available information has already been shared.

Five years on from the start of the pandemic, Donald Trump’s new CIA director has weighed into the contentious debate saying a lab leak was “most likely”.

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