COVID-19 may be 'man-made', says UK's Michael Gove in inquiry
Story highlights
UK's Downing Street emphasised the World Health Organization's (WHO) need to investigate all possible origins of coronavirus
In the ongoing United Kingdom's COVID-19 inquiry, cabinet minister Michael Gove said that COVID-19 may have been “man-made” and further admitted the country was not prepared to deal with the pandemic.
Speaking in the inquiry, the former chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said, “We were not well prepared as we should have been ideally. I think that is true.”
“Again, it’s in the nature of the fact that the virus was novel and, indeed, I think this probably goes beyond the remit of the Inquiry this, a significant body of judgement that believes that the virus itself was man-made and that presents sort of challenges as well,” he added.
In the inquiry, the legal counsel Hugo Keith KC said that it was not included in the terms of reference to look at the “somewhat divisive issue” of how the pandemic started. Gove said that it was “important to recognise that the virus presented a new series of challenges”.
Michael Gove further said that he “admired” the way Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon handled the pandemic but added that the Scottish government wished to highlight differences for political means.
He said that he felt Scotland wanted to “exaggerate the impact of a mistake or error in order to feed a broader political mission”.
trending now
)
India's Arshdeep Singh reveals thought process in clinical match-winning last over vs Australia in 5th T20I
)
India state election results: PM Modi's BJP scores a sweeping 3/4 in crucial test before 2024 final
)
New Zealand on edge: Suspicious packages with fake baby covered in blood found outside US, Israeli embassies
)
New York stabbing attack: Four killed in Queens neighbourhood as police shoots suspect dead
)
WI skipper Shai Hope credits MS Dhoni for match-winning 109 vs England; equals Viv Richards and Virat Kohli
)
This groundbreaking new drug is all set to increase life span of large dogs
)
Serie A: Inter Milan send warning across league with win over Napoli
)
Indian PM Modi hails four-state election results as victory of 'politics of development'
)
Italy vs Spain in Euro 2024 group stage, England handed comfort draw
)
CID star Dinesh Phadnis aka Fredericks is on ventilator support: Report
)
Cardi B makes her gorgeous runway debut at Balenciaga's pre-fall 2024 show
)
Telangana election results 2023: BRS concedes defeat, extends congratulations to Congress
)
Sameera Reddy hangs out with Catherine Zeta-Jones in Goa, shares pics from her eventful outing
)
Ranbir Kapoor's Animal is a massive hit, crosses Rs 200 crore mark worldwide
)
Ex-US ambassador to Bolivia arrested, accused of serving as an agent of Cuba: Report
WHO should examine Covid's possible origins
UK's Downing Street has stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) needs to investigate all possible origins of coronavirus.
While appearing at the COVID-19 inquiry, Michael Gove claimed that there was a “significant body of judgment that believes that the virus itself was man-made”.
Watch: Covid-19 pandemic's aftermath looms over India; 10 sudden deaths reported in India's Gujarat
Later, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said, “The government’s view is that the WHO needs to continue to examine all possibilities. We think there is still work to be done. But it is for the WHO to investigate.”
He stated that it was the “long-standing position of the government” that the WHO needs to “consider all possible avenues and to come to a conclusion”.
“I don’t think it is quite that people have differing views about the origins of COVID-19,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
)
