Philip BumpFeb 28, 2023
We actually aren't significantly closer to knowing the origin of the coronavirus than we were a few days ago. But any indication that it leaked from a lab is an opportunity that will be used to hyperbolically cast officials and the media as wrong.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/27/china-covid-wuhan-lab-energy-department/?itid=ap_philipbump
The weighted politics of the debate over covid-19 origins

We're not much closer to knowing how the pandemic began, but there's no shortage of people willing to declare victory.

The Washington Post
Show threadJonKramer, CIS-HETFeb 28, 2023

@pbump will knowing the origin change any aspects of treatment, or would have saved any lives in the past, present, or future?

I suspect that answer is "no," to which I respond I really don't give a rat's ass where it came from.

Show threadEsther2007
@JonKramer @pbump I think knowing how it originated could be helpful in preventing the next pandemic. We might learn something useful.
Feb 28, 2023 at 4:42amWeb
Show threadJonKramer, CIS-HETFeb 28, 2023
@Esther2007 @pbump , knowing it was once in a lab doesn't help understand origins, treatment, or anything. It's about as relevant as knowing if your Amazon package was delivered in a Ford or Chevy van.
Show threadEsther2007Feb 28, 2023
@JonKramer @pbump But what if there was a safety protocol - either in a market or in a lab - that could be improved to lessen the chances of another pandemic? Don't scientists always want to know how diseases originate?
Show threadJonKramer, CIS-HETFeb 28, 2023
@Esther2007 @pbump , the virus is literally in thousands of labs right now. In most nations around the world. This fact doesn't determine where the virus originated, determine effective treatment, or any other bit of useful information. Refer to my "Ford vs Chevy" comment.
Show threadEsther2007Feb 28, 2023
@JonKramer @pbump So how do we prevent the next pandemic?
Show threadJonKramer, CIS-HETFeb 28, 2023
@Esther2007 @pbump , no clue, but debate and focus on what buildings the virus was once in will not be part of any solution.