WUHAN, China (AP) – World Health Organization experts visited an animal disease center in the Chinese city of Wuhan on Tuesday as part of their research into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
Team member Peter Daszak later told reporters that they had “excellent facilities, a very informative meeting” and tweeted that the team met with livestock health staff in Hubei Province, toured the labs and had an “in-depth” discussion along with questions and answers.
No further details of the visit were announced.
Team members wore full protective gear during Tuesday’s visit, another indication of the work China has done in preparation for the WHO’s visit to Wuhan, where the first COVID-19 diseases arose. at the end of 2019.
Outside their hotel and in public spaces, experts have constantly worn professional or business masks and suits, but it is unclear whether they have worn full-length protective suits to the research institutes, hospitals and markets they have visited previously.
Intense negotiations preceded the WHO visit to Wuhan, as China has maintained strict controls on access to information about the virus, possibly to avoid blaming the alleged errors in its first response to the outbreak.
But on Monday, WHO officials in Geneva withdrew suggestions that the team of experts from ten countries would not get enough access or data.
Maria Van Kerkhove, technical director of WHO’s COVID-19, said the team plans to visit the Wuhan Institute of Virology, considered one of the main sources of information on the origins of the virus. Dr Michael Ryan, WHO’s head of emergencies, said the agency continued to ask for more data and said anyone with information on how the pandemic started should share it with the organization.
The data collected by the team will be added to what is expected to be a search for answers for years involving animal sampling, genetic analysis and epidemiological studies.
China has largely stopped national transmission of the virus through sometimes draconian measures, including strict testing and electronic surveillance. The use of masks in public is standard and blockades are routinely imposed on communities and even entire cities where cases are detected.
Schools have gone online and travel has been drastically reduced during this month’s Lunar New Year holidays, with the government offering incentives for people to stay in cities instead of returning to their villages. ‘origin for family reunions.