In a report released Friday, the agencies that comprise the US Intelligence Community have determined that the Chinese government not develop and release the coronavirus as a some sort of biological weapon, although the specifics of its evolution remain in doubt, USA Today reports.
“After examining all available intelligence reporting and other information, though, the IC (intelligence community) remains divided on the most likely origin of COVID-19,” a summary of the report released Friday reads. “All agencies assess that two hypotheses are plausible: natural exposure to an infected animal and a laboratory-associated incident.”
The USIC determined that the Chinese were unprepared for the outbreak of the virus, whatever its origin. “These analysts give weight to China’s officials’ lack of foreknowledge, the numerous vectors for natural exposure, and other factors,” the report says.
While analysts recognized the potential for natural transmission of the virus to animals and then to people, some of the analysts stated “moderate confidence” that the virus could have jumped to humans through contact at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, either through animal exposure or accidental exposure from a sample.
“These analysts give weight to the inherently risky nature of work on coronaviruses,” the summary reads.