The White House presents a new version of the origin of COVID-19

The White House has published materials that speak of the possible laboratory origin of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The corresponding report was posted on the official website of the U.S. administration.

The authors of the report stated that the virus has features which, in their view, are rarely found in natural strains. A strain in this case refers to a variety of the same virus with certain differences. The materials also say that all the first cases of infection may be linked to a single introduction of the virus into the human body.

It is noted that such a situation, according to the compilers of the report, differs from some past epidemics, when infections passed from animals to humans several times in different places.

One of the main topics of the report was the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. The White House stated that specialists at this laboratory studied coronaviruses and conducted experiments aimed at altering their properties.

The authors of the document drew attention to the level of protection in the laboratory and stated that, by their assessment, it may have been insufficient. The report also says that some of the institute's employees may have developed symptoms of the disease as early as the fall of 2019 — several months before the official announcement of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition, the materials mention the American organization EcoHealth Alliance, which was engaged in funding coronavirus research. According to the authors of the report, the organization directed the funds of American taxpayers to work related to the study of viruses in China.

After information appeared about possible violations of the terms of the government grant, the U.S. authorities began the procedure of terminating funding for EcoHealth Alliance. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently conducting a review of the organization's activities during the pandemic.