China admits it destroyed some coronavirus samples at early stage

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China admits it destroyed some coronavirus samples at early stage
China admits it destroyed some coronavirus samples at early stage

Beijing : China has accepted that it destroyed some of the coronavirus samples during the early stage of the outbreak, but challenged US accusation that it was done to cover up the matter.

Liu Dengfeng, a supervisor at the science and education division of China's National Health Commission, addressed a press conference on Friday and claimed that the Chinese government issued an order on January 3 to destroy the coronavirus sample at some of its labs as the facilities were not qualified to handle such contagious virus as a measure to "prevent the risk to laboratory biological safety and prevent secondary disasters caused by unidentified pathogens."

The move came after the novel coronavirus, known now officially as SARS-CoV-2, was classified as Class II or "highly pathogenic" based on research and expert recommendations, Liu said. This decision necessitated "clear requirements on the collection, transportation, experimental use and destruction of the pathogen" in order to avoid a potential mishap or leakage, he said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary Mike Pompeo has been claiming that January 3 order was in accordance to cover up China’s role in the outbreak.

"The Chinese Communist Party tried to suppress information about this virus, about where it began, about how it started, about how it was being transmitted from human to human, indeed employed the World Health Organization to further that storyline," Pompeo told Christian radio program Focus on the Family on Monday.

Defending Beijing's approach, Liu claimed that it is under the Chinese law that such viruses must be transferred or destroyed in the labs which are not capable enough of handling them.

"The remarks disseminated by these U.S. officials are purely out of context and intentionally confuse the audience," Liu said at Friday's press briefing.