Three years into the Covid-19 pandemic and, while the virus’ pernicious grip on society has lessened, the debate on the origins of SARS-CoV-2 rages on. Was it a lab leak? Was it an animal in a wet market? We may never know, but last week, fresh fuel was lobbed on the fire. In an exclusive report, The Atlantic revealed there is new genetic data suggesting an animal origin for the virus. The data shows an animal known as a raccoon dog was likely present at Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in December 2019, and that they were being kept in conditions ripe for viral transmission.
