Coronavirus origins: What happens when we have the answer?

China will vigorously contest any conclusion that questions their management of the Wuhan Laboratory, their handling of the epidemic, their international cooperation or the lack of it, and the animal-to-human transmission theory. We must strengthen our own information campaign in the face of what will be a strong and comprehensive effort questioning the results and motives behind any other conclusion. We must ensure consistent messaging that makes clear our issue is with the government and not the people of China. President George W. Bush’s efforts to reassure America’s Muslim citizens in the wake of 9/11 come to mind. This effort around the virus looks to be much more difficult. On the home front, we already have a problem with animosity directed toward Asian American and Pacific Islander citizens and residents. We would pile tragedy on top of tragedy if we allowed this to become worse. We also have the red-blue divide, with champions of Donald Trump’s claim of lab leakage conflicting with earlier “Blue” views about the origin. Many experts that declined a public role then have now become more open with their views. The inevitable rise of new information, in this case, allegations of illness among lab workers late in 2019, adds to the questions that must be researched. A compelling case openly arrived at, is needed to reduce our high levels of doubt and acrimony. We will never get to zero, but we must find some way to avoid extremes.