The problem for the lab-leak position is that the U.S. has never had access to the Wuhan lab and has thus been unable to reach a definitive answer for more than five years. Now that the CIA has at last come to a conclusion, not all scientists are sold on what it has reported, seeing the results as thinly scientifically sourced.

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory.

The CIA admits it has "low confidence" in its conclusion and says both a natural origin and a research-related incident are still possible. HealthDay News — After years of speculation, the CIA has weighed in yet again: A lab leak is now considered the likely origin of the COVID pandemic.

The US spy agency points the finger at China while acknowledging it has "low confidence" in its own conclusion, which is based on fresh analysis of intelligence about the spread of the virus.

The news comes after the CIA announced over the weekend that COVID-19 most likely originated from a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2020.

The intelligence agency says it has ‘low confidence’ in assessment and will continue to evaluate credible information.

The CIA investigated the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, and determined, with low confidence, the origin was likely a lab leak in China.

The report was declassified and released on Saturday on the orders of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, John Ratcliffe.

China on Monday dismissed the lab leak theory on COVID-19 origins proposed by the CIA, calling it baseless and emphasizing the need for scientific investigation, state media reported.

World Health Organization chief says agency already cutting back on hiring and travel with Trump withdrawal set to hit funding.

The CIA now believes the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic most likely originated from a laboratory, according to an assessment that points the finger at China even while acknowledging that the spy agency has “low confidence” in its own conclusion.

It was on January 30, 2020, that WHO declared Covid-19 a global public health emergency. The novel coronavirus would end up killing nearly seven million people. Five years on, and with Donald Trump back in the White House,