WHO team to arrive in China Thursday to probe virus origins

Ten World Health Organisation scientists will visit China from Thursday to probe the origins of Covid-19. The long-awaited mission is of great political significance at a time when the Covid-19 has devastated the world, caused almost two million deaths and brought the global economy to a virtual standstill. China’s National Health Commission said in a statement, the WHO team will conduct joint research cooperation on the origins of Covid-19 with Chinese scientists. Australia and other countries have called for an investigation into the origins of the virus. China has been accused of a cover-up that delayed its initial response, allowing the virus to spread. It wasn’t immediately clear whether they would travel to the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus was first detected in late 2019. China has been criticised heavily by the WHO over delays in the investigation.