CIA Says COVID-19 Likely Came From a Lab, But Confidence Is Low

The CIA now believes that COVID-19 most likely originated from a laboratory, specifically in China, but the agency has “low confidence” in this conclusion. The assessment, released on Saturday, was requested by the Biden administration and former CIA Director William Burns. However, the report notes that the evidence is unclear, with some information contradictory or lacking.

While the CIA’s finding suggests a lab origin is more likely than a natural one, the agency still considers both possibilities plausible. Intelligence officials also said the true origin of the virus may never be fully known because of limited cooperation from Chinese authorities. This report is unlikely to end the debate on how the pandemic started.