China has responded against a ‘conspiracy theory’ by Western media that the Coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19 does not have a natural origin, and instead said it “originated in wildlife”.
In the latest document released by the Embassy of China in Nigeria, strongly condemned the conspiracy theories, saying that such could affect the fight against the epidemic.
“In response to these conspiracy theories, the Lancelet Published a joint statement signed by 27 top Public Health Scientists on February 18, saying “scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent (SARS-CoV-2) and they overwhelmingly conclude that this Coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens.
“We stand together to strongly condemned conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin.
“The World Health Organization has reiterated that there is no evidence that the virus was produced in a lab or as a biological weapon.
“These western politicians and media are making arbitrary assertions and even conjectured “biological warfare” to smear China”, the Embassy stated.
It added that “conspiracy theories not only are a departure from science and rationality but also, churn out rumours, prejudices and panic, impeding the joint efforts of the international community in fighting against the epidemic”.
The document also expressed the fear of a looming disaster if care is not taken to deal with those socio-political challenges.
“The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development lowered its projection for global growth this year from 2.9 per cent to 2.4 per cent on Monday. If the epidemic continues to spread for another few months in the major economies and main oil producers- which is highly possible. Judging from its current transmission momentum, if resolute actions are not forthcoming, it will unavoidably trigger a chain reaction throughout the world economy that will leave no party unscathed”.
