Wuhan Institute of Virology

Dr. Anthony Fauci faced another grilling on Capitol Hill, calling Republican allegations that he’d tried to cover up COVID-19's origins “simply preposterous.”

In a trove of emails brought to light through a congressional probe, a former close adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke of hiding messages from public disclosure.

In the first weeks of outbreak, the Chinese government froze meaningful efforts to trace the origins, despite publicly declaring it supported an open scientific inquiry, an AP investigation finds.

The newest report angered some Republicans, who have argued the Biden administration is wrongly withholding classified information, and researchers, who accuse the U.S. of not being forthcoming.

Data was released briefly, then rescinded. As NPR reported previously, there is already strong evidence pointing to these animals in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.

The House has unanimously voted to require the Director of National Intelligence to declassify information on the origins of COVID-19. It's not clear whether or not President Biden will sign the bill.

In the coming days, expect a strong bipartisan vote in the House on legislation pushing U.S. intelligence officials to declassify more information related to the origins of COVID.

The FBI previously concluded with moderate confidence that COVID first emerged accidentally from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That's not the consensus among intelligence and scientific communities.

Two U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly support the lab leak theory — with low-to-moderate confidence. No evidence has been shared. Scientists have strong evidence of animal spillover at a market.

NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Michael Gordon of The Wall Street Journal about a classified report indicating the Energy Department believes the COVID pandemic was likely caused by a lab leak in China.