Joint Statement on the WHO-Convened COVID-19 Origins Study
A number of governments from around the world support a transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, free from interference and undue influence, of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. They join in expressing shared concerns regarding the recent WHO-convened study in China.
March 30, 2021 | Source: U.S. Department of State | by Office of the Spokesperson
The Governments of Australia, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America remain steadfast in our commitment to working with the World Health Organization (WHO), international experts who have a vital mission, and the global community to understand the origins of this pandemic in order to improve our collective global health security and response. Together, we support a transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, free from interference and undue influence, of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, we join in expressing shared concerns regarding the recent WHO-convened study in China, while at the same time reinforcing the importance of working together toward the development and use of a swift, effective, transparent, science-based, and independent process for international evaluations of such outbreaks of unknown origin in the future.