In early 2020, Chinese virologist Zhang Yongzhen shared critical data by disclosing the genome of the virus causing Covid-19, aiding global efforts to combat the pandemic. However, Zhang has since faced obstacles in his career in China, with his lab at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center abruptly closed for renovations.
Zhang protested by sleeping outside his lab, demanding the resumption of scientific work related to tracing Covid-19 origins. His team faced challenges due to the closure, impacting more than a dozen students' research.
