KEY POINTS

■ The WHO this month proposed a second phase of studies into the origins of the coronavirus in China, including audits of laboratories and markets in the city of Wuhan, calling for transparency from authorities

■ “We will not accept such an originstracing plan as it, in some aspects, disregards common sense and defies science,” said Zeng Yixin, vice minister of the National Health Commission

■ In May, US President Joe Biden ordered aides to find answers to questions over the origin saying that US intelligence agencies were pursuing rival theories potentially including the possibility of a laboratory accident in China