zlacker

>>nnx+(OP)
So, to summarize-the-summary: there are four possible theories:

1. Direct-jump from bat population

2. Started in bats, came to humans through intermediate animal

3. Came from frozen food outside of China

4. Lab accident.

I used to think the lab accident theory was crazy, because it sounds like a science fiction movie. Not an impossible theory, just a crazy one.

But according to this article, despite a year of investigation, (1) is unlikely because we haven't found anyone that interacted with the nearest bat population hundred of miles away that didn't work in the virus lab in Wuhan and that caught the virus, (2) is unlikely because we would have found the intermediate animal by now, (3) is unlikely because the first case found was in China (and not somewhere else... if frozen food had the virus, the food would have had it before it was frozen, and someone else would have had it), and (4) is unlikely because a government famous for blocking information and is paranoid about how it is perceived domestically and internationally says "No, trust us on this one."

At some point, crazy theories become the most likely. Hopefully I'm wrong though, and they find an explanation that isn't "lab accident." It seems like we should be studying viruses and sharing that information with each other, and accidents like this will make it more likely that such research doesn't happen.

>>jkings+vc1
The lab accident isn't crazy. Happens in the West too, it's just something that will be politically weaponized against China if it were to admit it, although we just got lucky in the US and Europe before.

Typical Western hypocrisy would be at play and China has no motivation whatsoever to subject itself to that.

Also, SARS-1 escaped twice, in Singapore and Beijing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incident...

>>neuron+9i1
If China did allow this virus to escape, and covered it up shouldn’t they be held liable for trillions in economic damage, as well as compensation for victims around the world?

>>twobit+AV1
Why should china be held liable when it was the labs fails? Or even more specific someone in the lab? Would the USA be held liable when some lab fails? Is USA or even the company itself held liable for tech-companies fails on security or protecting privacy?

I doubt there is some legal paragraph which would work here, even in International Law.

>>slight+8O2
Evidence points to China government trying to cover up details.

https://www.axios.com/timeline-the-early-days-of-chinas-coro...

>>effie+wm5
And smartly so. Why would they not do it if everything that would happen is the kind of discussion like OP started.

"Shouldn't they be held liable?"

There's a lot of accidents that happened in the West, specifically the US. Some known, some not.

The West just got lucky but would never admit it either.