'We are not afraid': Wuhan residents say they hope WHO team finds virus origins

[snoop1130]

'We are not afraid': Wuhan residents say they hope WHO team finds virus origins

By Emily Chow

 

A man wearing a mask stands near a street, almost a year after the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song

 

WUHAN, China (Reuters) - With investigators from the World Health Organization (WHO) set to visit China next year, residents of Wuhan are saying they want the team to come to the central city, hoping they could prove the virus did not originate there.

 

An international team of investigators is expected to travel to China in January, the WHO said on Thursday, more than a year after the first identified cluster of COVID-19 infections was linked to the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan.

 

"I welcome them to come. We also want to know how it developed, specifically where it came from, if the source of the virus is here," said a Wuhan resident surnamed Wan, as he walked to work on Thursday morning.

 

"My feeling is that it is not from there," he added, referring to the seafood market.

 

The WHO did not confirm whether its team will go to Wuhan, saying that discussions on the itinerary were ongoing. A two-member WHO team visited China in July, but did not visit Wuhan.

 

Reuters reported earlier, citing a member and diplomats, that a team of 12-15 international experts will visit Wuhan to examine evidence, including human and animal samples collected by Chinese researchers, and to build on their initial studies.

 

Beijing has strongly opposed calls for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, but said it has been open to a WHO-led investigation.

 

China's foreign ministry did not directly comment on the WHO visit during a daily media briefing on Thursday.

 

"China stands ready to enhance its cooperation with WHO to advance the global tracing efforts and contribute our share in our early victory against the pandemic," spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

 

Many questions remain about the origins of COVID-19 and the role Wuhan's exotic wildlife trade may have played in it.

 

Although authorities closed the Huanan market in January, there is a growing scientific consensus that the virus did not originate there. Some studies suggest it was already in circulation by the time it reached the market, with more than one transmission route.

 

China still tightly restricts access to locations such as the Huanan market, which stands empty and locked even though normal life has largely resumed in Wuhan and throughout China.

 

Beijing has also been pushing a narrative that the virus existed abroad before it was found in Wuhan, and unlike other countries cites frozen food packaging as a risk of spreading COVID-19.

 

"There is a strong possibility it was brought in via wholesale seafood from elsewhere. Wuhan has no seafood," said 20-year-old Wuhan student Jiang Yongcheng.

 

Others said a WHO visit is an opportunity to show how well the city had done battling the virus. Wuhan has not reported a locally transmitted case since May 10, after a 76-day lockdown that was one of the strictest worldwide.

 

"We are not afraid of their investigation," said Liu Qin, who works in real estate. "Because you can see from the epidemic this year, in Wuhan things were done well, if not the epidemic would not have been controlled quickly."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-17

 

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[rabas]

I too would not be afraid after a year to prepare. 

 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Beijing has also been pushing a narrative that the virus existed abroad before it was found in Wuhan,

 

Looking back, they also pushed the narrative it came from a known Yunnan bat cave. Even found by Bat Woman! They even had a precursor named RATG13, 96.2% similar to SARS-2,  until it was found to have serious issues. They later found another Yunnan bat cave example, 97+% similar! They published that as proof of China cave origins.

 

Before that, they said it was from a pangolin virus 99% similar to SARS-2 , except they misspoke and it was only 90% similar and not possibly the origin. Before that it was the Wuhan market,  until it was discovered that many even earlier cases never went to the market. But at least they removed all evidence from the market. And so on and so forth.

 

So after a full year of clamp down on information, I'm sure they will find the 'appropriate' facts.

[ukrules]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Beijing has strongly opposed calls for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus

There's zero chance that there's no inquiry ongoing right now and it would have started when the very first samples were extracted from the Wuhan evacuees lungs.

 

They will not give up until the origin is known, whether we ever know the results is another matter altogether.

[alianware]

Do you think this stupid tedros , puppet of china will find it in wuhan as origin the virus ??? The vaccine is produced already and still they haven't started with the investigation. The evil deal between WHO and china has taken that long , huh !!.. was is about the money that they can't agreed with !!

[Scott]

Troll post removed.

 

[vandeventer]

Will WHO  have access to the Wuhan Lab? This all seems like too little too late. The cover up has been successful and Australia is paying the price for asking too many questions.

[Tug]

It imo doesent matter were it originated as long as it wasent intentional it is what it is what’s important imo is what we do moving forward all this blame storming is counter productive 

[4737 Carlin]

I'm sure the WHO will find whatever the Chinese Communist Party tell them they found. 

[LittleBear57]

They will go where they are told, see only what they are shown. This should have been done a year ago and they should have been given free access. Now everything has been cleaned up and you can bet your money there will be no blame, just an unfortunate act of nature.

[AlfHuy]

Sure they are not afraid.

Had plenty of time to clean and hide.

That they now sponsor the WHO should also gives a helping hand.

 

Not really a surprise visit, is it?

[AlfHuy]

13 hours ago, rabas said:

I too would not be afraid after a year to prepare. 

 

 

Looking back, they also pushed the narrative it came from a known Yunnan bat cave. Even found by Bat Woman! They even had a precursor named RATG13, 96.2% similar to SARS-2,  until it was found to have serious issues. They later found another Yunnan bat cave example, 97+% similar! They published that as proof of China cave origins.

 

Before that, they said it was from a pangolin virus 99% similar to SARS-2 , except they misspoke and it was only 90% similar and not possibly the origin. Before that it was the Wuhan market,  until it was discovered that many even earlier cases never went to the market. But at least they removed all evidence from the market. And so on and so forth.

 

So after a full year of clamp down on information, I'm sure they will find the 'appropriate' facts.

Than it was the "Norwegian" salmon.

Than the "German" sausage.

Than the "Scottish" whisky"

Than the "Belgian French fries";

 

 

Oh dear.

[Krabi King]

The WHO and China will walk hand in hand on this. Nothing reliable will come out of the inquiry. China already acknowledged not allowing an international investigation, but the WHO can. Yeah, right...

[GreasyFingers]

Do I note a bit of racism on this topic.

[The Theory]

On 12/17/2020 at 6:23 PM, snoop1130 said:

"There is a strong possibility it was brought in via wholesale seafood from elsewhere. Wuhan has no seafood," said 20-year-old Wuhan student Jiang Yongcheng.

Check your research lab. The seafood could be from the lab. ????????

[4737 Carlin]

19 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Do I note a bit of racism on this topic.

That old chestnut. Just throw in the 'R' word and conversation over. China basically poisons the entire planet but let's not criticise the regime because they're not white people.

[GreasyFingers]

6 hours ago, 4737 Carlin said:

That old chestnut. Just throw in the 'R' word and conversation over. China basically poisons the entire planet but let's not criticise the regime because they're not white people.

Ah. Going back to the yellow peril are we.

[Traubert]

On 12/18/2020 at 7:02 PM, GreasyFingers said:

Do I note a bit of racism on this topic.

More  than a bit mate.

 

Trump lied about everything but he was right about China and the WHO. Love that one. 

 

Love 'its not the people, its the CPC' as well. What all 350m of them, thats all the people you've got!!!

[tonbridgebrit]

On 12/18/2020 at 7:12 PM, car720 said:

not really.  Even the Chinese will tell you that the CCP are evil. That is what this is all about.  An evil regime, not an evil race of people, though after countless years of living in fear, most Chinese are reluctant to leave themselves open to anything.

Them Chinese who are in Taiwan and Hong Kong, some of them reckon that the CCP are evil. But how many of them Chinese in mainland China reckon that the CCP is evil ?

Are the Chinese in China aware that the bug is still killing loads of people in America and Europe ?  Are the Chinese in China thankfull that their country has gone back to being normal ? Do they believe that their country has gone back to being normal because of the response done by their government ?  I think the answer to all three questions is, is yes.

[rabas]

3 hours ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Them Chinese who are in Taiwan and Hong Kong, some of them reckon that the CCP are evil. But how many of them Chinese in mainland China reckon that the CCP is evil ?

Are the Chinese in China aware that the bug is still killing loads of people in America and Europe ?  Are the Chinese in China thankfull that their country has gone back to being normal ? Do they believe that their country has gone back to being normal because of the response done by their government ?  I think the answer to all three questions is, is yes.

I reckon most people understand the good and the bad of the CCP, especially mainland Chinese. I doubt many anywhere want the likes of the CCP leading mankind. You are not able to imagine a better government?

 

As for what they think, a long time scientist friend in Beijing says some believe it may have been CCP monkey business gone awry. They're know who got hit hardest and who got off easy.

[tonbridgebrit]

12 hours ago, rabas said:

I reckon most people understand the good and the bad of the CCP, especially mainland Chinese. I doubt many anywhere want the likes of the CCP leading mankind. You are not able to imagine a better government?

 

As for what they think, a long time scientist friend in Beijing says some believe it may have been CCP monkey business gone awry. They're know who got hit hardest and who got off easy.

Hello there.
Okay, you want to talk about 'monkey business gone awry' ?? Exactly what conspiracy theory are you trying to say ?

Okay, let's look at the official version of events.  The Covid bug started in Wuhan, China, and it spread. It spread from Wuhan to other parts of China, and it spread from Wuhan and other parts of China to places outside of China. The opinion being that the Beijing government was late in telling the world, and late in ordering a mass lockdown on Wuhan and other parts of China. They could have ordered a mass lockdown onto Wuhan earlier, but they didn't. The bug was allowed to spread in China and outside of China.

The bug is now all over the world. Why is the bug almost non-existent in Wuhan and the rest of China ?   How comes the bug is still very much in America and Europe. Why is that ? What strategy has Beijing done, to cause a situation where Covid is almost non-existent in China ?  What do you believe ?

Is it because the Beijing government has carried out thorough lockdowns across China, and this has removed the Covid bug ? I think this is the case. And the reason why the bug still exists in Europe, Britain and America is because, because, because the lockdowns have not been done, or lockdowns are not thorough enough. Or maybe because people simply don't follow the lockdown rules and go to the beach ?


What conspiracy theory are we talking about ? Was the bug allowed to leave Wuhan and spread in China in a SMALL way, and at the same time, it was released outside of China (released into Italy, America, Brazil, Britain ) in a secret and MASSIVE way ?  Was the bug released into Europe in a massive way back in March ?  And Europe is still suffering from the massive release ? And it was released in a small way in China in the months prior to March, that's why it was much easier for China to clear the bug ?  Do people believe this ?

Whatever it is that people believe, well, we've got to try and explain why the bug is almost non-existent in China, but is still very much present in America, Britain and Europe. What's your view regarding an explanation for this ?
Thanks.

[rabas]

4 hours ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Hello there.
Okay, you want to talk about 'monkey business gone awry' ?? Exactly what conspiracy theory are you trying to say ?

Okay, let's look at the official version of events.  The Covid bug started in Wuhan, China, and it spread. It spread from Wuhan to other parts of China, and it spread from Wuhan and other parts of China to places outside of China. The opinion being that the Beijing government was late in telling the world, and late in ordering a mass lockdown on Wuhan and other parts of China. They could have ordered a mass lockdown onto Wuhan earlier, but they didn't. The bug was allowed to spread in China and outside of China.

The bug is now all over the world. Why is the bug almost non-existent in Wuhan and the rest of China ?   How comes the bug is still very much in America and Europe. Why is that ? What strategy has Beijing done, to cause a situation where Covid is almost non-existent in China ?  What do you believe ?

Is it because the Beijing government has carried out thorough lockdowns across China, and this has removed the Covid bug ? I think this is the case. And the reason why the bug still exists in Europe, Britain and America is because, because, because the lockdowns have not been done, or lockdowns are not thorough enough. Or maybe because people simply don't follow the lockdown rules and go to the beach ?


What conspiracy theory are we talking about ? Was the bug allowed to leave Wuhan and spread in China in a SMALL way, and at the same time, it was released outside of China (released into Italy, America, Brazil, Britain ) in a secret and MASSIVE way ?  Was the bug released into Europe in a massive way back in March ?  And Europe is still suffering from the massive release ? And it was released in a small way in China in the months prior to March, that's why it was much easier for China to clear the bug ?  Do people believe this ?

Whatever it is that people believe, well, we've got to try and explain why the bug is almost non-existent in China, but is still very much present in America, Britain and Europe. What's your view regarding an explanation for this ?
Thanks.

Thank you for your long and seemingly honest question. If you want to know why my friend, a nuclear physicist by training, says he or people around him view the issue with suspicion, we must ask him.

 

While I'm in Bangkok, we communicate by WeChat because the Chinese authorities banned other communication like WhatsApp, and he won't discuss sensitive issues that can be monitored.

 

I can tell you what I think, but it's a long story. 

[sqwakvfr]

This is like investigating a homicide a year after the body has been cremated.  Why bother?  Damage has been done. Only thing left to do is get the world vaccinated.  

Edited December 22, 2020 by sqwakvfr
Grammar

[TSF]

On 12/18/2020 at 8:19 AM, Tug said:

It imo doesent matter were it originated as long as it wasent intentional it is what it is what’s important imo is what we do moving forward all this blame storming is counter productive 

This is a possibility. Trump starts his trade war, western governments and academics are saying that the rise of China is like the rise of Hitler & the Nazis in the 1930s and there will be a war between China and the West. So Xi Jinping & the CCP, think...oh, you're considering starting a war with us sometime in the near future, threaten our economy and security...well have some of this you muva<deleted>as, lets see how tough you are after you deal with this.