An international team of scientists has unearthed genetic sequence data collected by Chinese researchers from a market in Wuhan in January 2020 but withheld from foreign experts for three years.
The Chinese government has blocked international investigations and censored discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crackdown is still causing a lot of misinformation, which is hampering efforts to figure out the origin of the coronavirus. The New York Times reported it.
Under pressure from the government, Chinese researchers reportedly hid data – removed genetic sequences from public databases and changed important points in materials presented in journals. Western journal editors facilitate these actions by agreeing to such editing or retracting articles for unexplained reasons.
An international team of scientists has unearthed genetic sequence data collected by Chinese researchers from a market in Wuhan in January 2020 but withheld from foreign experts for three years.
As The New York Times notes, it is impossible to attribute any motivation to censorship. Beijing controls and constructs information as if it were common knowledge, especially in times of crisis. But on the censorship side, the schedule for early infections has been changed, which is a relatively sensitive topic, as the government faces criticism over the speed of its response to the outbreak.
The publication emphasizes that there is no evidence that the censorship is an attempt to hide the specific scenario of the pandemic.
Some researchers believe that COVID-19 is transmitted naturally from animals to humans. Others argue that the virus may have spread from a Chinese laboratory. Both sides cite censored data to support their theories, but agree that the Chinese government’s dominance of science has hindered the search for the truth.
It will be recalled that the Ministry of Health said that the incidence of coronavirus in Ukraine has decreased.
In March of this year, the World Health Organization announced a significant decrease in deaths from COVID.
It was also reported that the laboratory of a Chinese scientist studying the wildlife trade was recently closed as Chinese authorities investigate unfounded fears that the laboratory’s research is linked to the source of the pandemic.
On April 1, China restricted foreign access to the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Academic Portal and, accordingly, research conducted there. Authorities encouraged Chinese scientists to publish in local journals rather than international publications.
And recently, Chinese officials said it was time to start investigating the origin of the virus outside of China. The publication considers this an allusion to the disproved claim that the pandemic began elsewhere.
Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.