Revised paper on COVID-19 origins reignites lab leak discussions after retraction

A paper on the origins of COVID-19 was retracted and then republished, reigniting discussions about a possible lab leak in Wuhan. The original study, published in 2020, was criticized for including bat sequences from Laos instead of just China. The revised paper, published on December 19, maintains the same conclusions but updates the data. The authors, including Peter Daszak from EcoHealth Alliance, stated that the changes did not significantly alter the findings regarding the relationship between bat coronaviruses. Despite the retraction, some online commentators are linking the developments to the lab leak theory. However, experts clarify that the revisions do not support claims of engineering or a lab leak, emphasizing the focus on bat coronaviruses in China.