COVID-19 may have passed, but the questions surrounding the virus that brought the world to a grinding halt have yet to be concretely answered.
The Central Intelligence Agency's latest assessment of the origin of the virus has renewed interest in the pathogen that caused a global pandemic. According to America's top investigative agency, a "research-related origin" of the pandemic "is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting." While making the assessment, the CIA cautioned that it had "low confidence" in this determination.
With little or restricted access to the epicenter of the pandemic, it is unlikely that all questions regarding the origin of the virus will be settled in the near future. China has never fully cooperated with international scientific agencies and investigative teams seeking to pinpoint the origin of the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus.
But almost half of the country believes that the COVID-19-causing virus was created in a Chinese lab. Very few subscribe to the theory that it was a naturally occurring pathogen or that the virus that infected humans came from animals. TIPP has been tracking public perceptions of COVID-19’s origins for nearly five years, and the data show that opinions have remained largely unchanged.
Besides the origin of the virus, how it came to infect humans and set off a global pandemic is another disturbing question. The pandemic killed millions and caused economic losses in the trillions. Furthermore, it caused fear among people, altering lifestyles and taking away livelihoods. The scientific community also faces heightened scrutiny regarding the risks surrounding virus research.
Most Americans, including President Trump, favor the lab leak theory. More than half of those who believe in the theory believe the virus was intentionally released from a scientific laboratory. But, close to a third feel that the leak was an accident and not deliberate.
Irrespective of how the pathogen was released, a significant majority agree that China attempted to cover up the COVID-19 outbreak, which caused it to spread across the globe. Beijing’s continued attempts to stymie independent international investigations and reluctance to share information with the scientific community have only added to the perception that the country is trying to cover its tracks.
The nationwide TIPP Poll, conducted over the years, has documented that almost three-quarters of Americans view Beijing’s actions as a cover-up.
The pandemic that drove the global economy off its rails and took millions of lives has had a profound impact on every country. Economies and communities are still trying to recover from the disruption. Every sector, from tourism to retail sales, has been affected. In the latest TIPP Poll, more than half affirm that the pandemic has negatively impacted them.
China continues to deny responsibility for its role in spreading a global pandemic. The Chinese embassy spokesperson responded to the CIA's conclusion as "misleading" and not based on "substantial evidence." A written statement said, "The source of the virus is a complex scientific issue, and scientists and experts should find the answer through rigorous and meticulous scientific research, rather than being judged by politicians."
Many Americans believe Beijing should be held legally accountable for its actions. By trying to cover up the COVID-19 outbreak, spreading it across the world, and hindering an independent investigation, China has wreaked havoc.
It must be noted that a scientific investigation is essential, and definite answers are necessary regarding the origin and spread of the virus. The issue lies beyond politics or politicizing a human crisis.
A clear picture could help devise procedures and protocols to prevent another catastrophic pandemic. It could also assist in formulating rules governing the gain of function research. In an increasingly interconnected world, such measures are necessary to save lives.
TIPP Picks
Selected articles from tippinsights.com And More
Government Oversight
1. Trump’s Best Shot To Get His Agenda Through Congress, Explained —Bradley Devlin, The Daily Signal
2. Want ‘Due Cause’ For The Firing Of Inspectors General? How About This? — Hans von Spakovsky, The Daily Signal
3. Senate Confirms Lee Zeldin To Lead President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency — Adam Pack, DCNF
4. Trump Nominee Warns Canada, Mexico To ‘Stop Allowing Fentanyl Into Our Country’ Or Risk Being Slapped With Tariff — Harold Hutchison, DCNF
5. Inspector General Escorted Out Of Office After Defying Trump’s Dismissal — Thomas English, DCNF
6. GOP Senator Reintroduces Bill To Boot One Agency’s Bureaucrats Outside The Beltway — Harold Hutchison, DCNF
National Security
7. It Makes Sense That The Left Fears Kash Patel — Victor Davis Hanson, The Daily Signal
8. The Chinese Sputnik — Ben Shapiro, The Daily Signal
9. Will There Be a Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine? — Ted Galen Carpenter, The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity
10. A Republic Of Spies — Andrew P. Napolitano, The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity
11. Democrats Running For Mayor In Crime-Ridden New York City Suddenly Back Cops — Hudson Crozier, DCNF
Policy Agenda
12. How the Gender Fever Finally Broke — Abigail Shrier, The Free Press
13. Trump’s DEI Executive Order—Good For Blacks, Good For America — Star Parker, The Daily Signal
14. Abysmal National Report Card Shows Why Education Reforms Are Badly Needed In US — Virginia Allen, Kristen Eichamer & Crystal Bonham, The Daily Signal
15. There Is No Such Thing As “Settled Law” — Ryan McMaken, Mises Wire
16. Making America Great Again Requires More Babies — Victor Joecks, The Daily Signal
17. Trump Creates Task Force for Huge Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday — Jarrett Stepman, The Daily Signal
Politics
18. About Those Onesies - A Brief Note to Senator Bernie Sanders — Matt Taibbi, Racket News
19. Choosing New Leaders, Democrats Are Still In Denial — Byron York, Washington Examiner
20. Democrats Started Our 7th-String Quarterback, She Couldn't Complete A Sentence — James Carville, PBS
21. After Grueling Election Loss, Democratic Party’s Approval Reaches New Lows — Adam Pack, DCNF
22. Who Are The Nonprofits That Sued to Block Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze?— Tyler O'Neil, The Daily Signal
23. ‘A Little Bit Of Political Oversight’: Former Biden Aides Get Angsty After Scott Jennings Defends Trump Grant Freeze — Harold Hutchison, DCNF
24. ‘Should Have Been Prevented’: Trump Addresses Plane-Helicopter Crash — Katrina Trinko, The Daily Signal
25. Tariffs Will Not Make America Great Again — Connor O'Keeffe, Mises Wire
