"Pre-Release: Chinese Lab Submitted COVID-19 Genetic Sequence to US Database Weeks Before Official Disclosure"
The genetic sequence of the coronavirus was submitted to a US database by a Chinese virologist two weeks before China officially disclosed it, raising questions about the Chinese government's knowledge of the virus. The submission, which lacked necessary information, was not made publicly available, but a nearly identical sequence was published on GenBank a day after the World Health Organization received it from China. Experts believe that the earlier release of the sequence could have accelerated vaccine development and potentially saved lives. US lawmakers are investigating the origins of Covid-19 and the handling of early coronavirus sequences to strengthen biosafety practices and prepare for future pandemics.
