The World Health Organisation has expressed disappointment over China not yet granting permission to international experts to visit Wuhan to probe the origin of Covid-19. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, the members of the international scientific team on COVID-19 have already begun their journey, but Chinese officials have not yet given the necessary permissions.
He said, the mission is a priority for WHO and the global health body is eager to get the mission underway as soon as possible. WHO Chief said, the experts’ visit was as per arrangements jointly developed between WHO, Chinese government, and countries for which the team was meant to travel through on their way to Wuhan. Beijing had previously said it would give the WHO’s expert team full access to investigate the origin of the virus.
While China has dismissed criticism of its handling of early cases that emerged in late 2019, some leaders including US President Donald Trump have questioned Beijing’s actions during the outbreak. Trump has often called it the ‘ChinaVirus’ and has repeatedly called for the Chinese government to be held accountable for this plague.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also slammed the Chinese Communist Party for continuing to spread disinformation regarding Covid-19 and obstructing the WHO investigation. (With inputs from AIR)
