#Letters to the Editor — May 28, 2021

The Issue: A push from experts for an investigation into whether COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab.

Over 18 months after the breakout of COVID-19, legislators and scientists are starting to focus on the theory that the virus may have accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (“HHS chief: WHO must look again at origins,” May 26).

American science diplomats had worked at the institute in 2018 and, in their reporting, cited deficient safety protocols and a lack of controls at the labs.

For authorities to be pursuing this line of reasoning over a year and a half after the fact indicates either willful blindness or sheer incompetence.

Peter Kelly

Hazlet, NJ

The Chinese refuse to give up information as to the origins of COVID-19. Many people seem to think it was possibly an accidental escape from the Wuhan lab. I believe that is an effort to give the Chinese an out. What if the release of the virus was deliberate?

Three scientists got sick at the lab in November of 2019.

I believe it is up to the Chinese to prove it was an accident. If it was deliberate, it was an act of war. Either way, the Chinese government is responsible.

The Chinese refusal to cooperate with outside investigations is an admission of guilt.

This is possibly an act of biological warfare, and the world should not allow them to get away with it.

Joseph Potter

Hesperia, Calif.

After the loss of millions of lives worldwide and countless trillions of dollars in economic damage, the Democrats, as if finally awakening from a Rip Van Winkle-like sleep, are now calling for a thorough review to determine if the virus did, in fact, escape from a Wuhan lab.

How many Twitter and Facebook accounts were suspended for “spreading lies,” promoting “hate speech” or creating “conspiracy theories” for even insinuating that China was responsible for the pandemic?

It is little consolation to those who have lost family members, businesses and a year of their lives to finally see the Democrats and their team of “experts” finally have to eat bat.

Jack Kaufman

Naples, Fla.

If you are not convinced that COVID-19 developed naturally, why would you be convinced that the Chinese Communist Party did not release COVID-19 intentionally?

COVID-19 works perfectly for the CCP: The virus allowed the CCP to end protests and arrest opponents (see Hong Kong). COVID-19 provided distracting cover for the CCP’s genocide, oppression, aggression and colonialization.

COVID-19 let China push ahead of the rest of the world in its economy, military and technology; it worked, the economy of China grew by leaps and bounds during the pandemic.

COVID-19 vastly weakened the world outside China. Even if you say that the CCP did not release COVID-19 intentionally, the CCP nonetheless weaponized COVID-19.

Steven Ross

Kew Gardens

Reinforcing the theory that COVID-19 leaked from the lab in Wuhan is the shockingly rapid reaction of China’s state actors to Dr. Li Wenlian’s warning of a potentially dangerous new coronavirus that he posted on Dec. 30, 2019.

In early January, he was forced to sign a statement denouncing his warning as an unfounded rumor.

If you think about it, you must conclude that powerful people in the People’s Republic of China were fully aware that there was a major problem with a dangerous new virus in Wuhan — and the rapid and vigorous attempt to cover up its existence was because they knew full well that the outbreak was the result of a leak at the local laboratory.

Regretfully, Dr. Li died from the new illness in January of 2020.

Tom Cook

Jacksonville, Fla.

Can there really be much doubt that the COVID-19 epidemic was hatched in a Chinese lab?

Communist regimes like the one in Beijing never admit responsibility for their failures. Honesty is required for that.

Joseph Koenig

Manhattan

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