COVID-19 Lab Leak

Overview

COVID-19 Lab Leak is a theory revolving around the potential that the coronavirus strain that caused the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a lab in Wuhan, China where the virus originally stemmed from. While the theory was downplayed early on, with many social media platforms even banning posts about it, reports from the White House and scientists in late May and early June 2021 began to emerge, suggesting that it was plausible and should be investigated.

Background

During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, scientists stated that the original source of transmission was unclear. By February, scientists who traced the original source of viral transmission said it was probable that it came from a bat in the Huanan Seafood Market due to the several infections of workers there.^[1] Other theories at the time included that visitors to the market may have introduced the virus.^[2] In March 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that it was probable the virus came from a direct spillover from an animal host, with bats being the most likely source.^[3] During that time, many media outlets and scientists downplayed the possibility of the virus spreading via a leak or human error.^[4]

Some theorists early on suggested that the virus came from the Wuhan Institue of Virology, with many even claiming that the virus was a biological weapon developed by China — whether leaked intentionally or unintentionally.

In late May and early June 2021, some politicians and scientists, including Dr. Fauci, began speculating that the theory of a “lab leak” could be possible, and investigations into the potential source were reopened, arguing that it was not adequately investigated.^[5] The story was widely reported on by major media outlets in mid-2021.^[6][7]

As calls from the public and scientists to further investigate the theory began spreading, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered intelligence officials to look into the matter and investigate the theory in late May.^[8] According to the order, the report is due back to Biden within 90 days.

On May 28th, Facebook then reversed its policy on banning posts that suggested COVID emerged from a lab.^[9]

Developments

Online Reactions

On June 4th, 2021, Twitter^[11] user and investigative journalist at Vanity Fair Katherine Eban tweeted a link to her article discussing several key elements of the emerging theory, receiving over 8,500 likes and 5,000 retweets in four days (shown below).

BREAKING: my months-long @VanityFair investigation on #COVID19 origins is live. Interviews w/ over 40 people, review of hundreds of pgs. of U.S. gov't docs. incl. internal memos, meeting minutes, email correspondence, found…. https://t.co/9vsJWmOWZN /1

— Katherine Eban (@KatherineEban) June 3, 2021

Shortly after news began emerging that the theory of a possible lab leak might be the origin of COVID-19, social media users began debating several elements of the story, particularly within conservative circles. One such post to the /r/conservative^[10] subreddit on May 31st, 2021, included a link to a Fox News article that claimed "reporters admit dismissing Wuhan lab leak theory in part because Republicans proposed it," receiving over 3,800 upvotes and 370 comments in one week.

On June 7th, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz tweeted^[12] about the lab leak theory while pointing blame at the "corporate media and deep state" for insisting it was a "conspiracy theory." The tweet (seen below) received over 6,300 likes and 2,000 retweets in seven hours.

Other users, such as Daily Beast editor Molly Jong-Fast, tweeted^[13] that they were fine with investigating the hypothesis further, but wanted the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic to also be looked into. Her tweet (seen below) received over 21,000 likes and 3,100 retweets in 10 hours.

Search Interest

External References