CIA Confirms COVID-19 Likely Originated from Chinese Lab Leak

The CIA has released a new assessment indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic is 'more likely' to have originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China, rather than from animals, although this conclusion comes with 'low confidence'. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that this evaluation is crucial for restoring public trust in government institutions. The agency's findings suggest a 'research-related origin' of the virus, marking a significant shift in their previous stance of insufficient information to determine the origin. Ratcliffe emphasized the need for transparency in their ongoing investigation, which includes determining whether the lab leak was intentional or accidental. This assessment follows a classified review ordered by the Biden administration, which Ratcliffe declassified to prevent accusations of politicization. Overall, the CIA maintains that both lab-related and natural origin scenarios are still plausible, while continuing to evaluate new intelligence.