There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 virus is a biological weapon. Scientific evidence suggests the COVID-19 virus spilled over from animals to people. One paper showed that the COVID-19 virus is 96% genetically identical to a coronavirus that was previously identified in bats, and researchers are working to discover even closer coronavirus matches in animals to hone in on the path of spillover into people. Two preliminary studies indicate that the COVID-19 virus could have passed through pangolins ("scaly anteaters"). As more research is conducted, the transmission chain of the COVID-19 virus will become clearer.

Drafted 11 March 2020