CIA asserts COVID-19 likely leaked from lab, cites low confidence

The CIA has revised its assessment regarding the origins of COVID-19, now stating it is 'more likely' that the virus emerged from a lab rather than from natural sources, albeit with 'low confidence' in this conclusion. This shift follows years of uncertainty, during which the agency indicated it could not determine the virus's origin. The review was initiated in the final weeks of the Biden administration under former CIA Director William Burns, who emphasized the importance of a clear determination due to the pandemic's historical significance. While the CIA joins the FBI and the Department of Energy in suggesting a lab leak, several other intelligence community elements still support the natural origin theory. The Chinese government has rejected the lab leak theory, accusing the U.S. of politicizing the investigation into COVID-19's origins. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has stated this topic is a priority for his agency, asserting that evidence supports the lab leak hypothesis.