WHO says no evidence in claims that the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan laboratory, foreign ministry clarifies.

China’s foreign ministry said the World Health Organisation has said there is no evidence that the coronavirus that has infected more than 2 million people globally was made in a lab.

Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remark yesterday in response to a question about accusations the coronavirus originated in a lab in Wuhan, where the epidemic first emerged in late 2019.

He told reporters during a daily briefing in Beijing that the WHO’s officials “have said multiple times there is no evidence the coronavirus was created in a laboratory”.

This new development comes as the international community condemned Trump’s decision to suspend funding to the WHO, voicing support for the body’s crucial role in guiding global efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trump on Tuesday announced that his administration is halting the nation’s funding to the WHO, which he accused of “severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus”.

This triggered widespread backlash and criticism across the world on Wednesday.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the

WHO regretted the US decision.

“The US has been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO, and we hope it will continue to be so,” he told a virtual press conference from Geneva.

Tedros called on all the nations to be united in the common struggle against the common pandemic, because “when we are divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us.”

Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney described the US decision as “indefensible” and “shocking”.

“This is indefensible decision in midst of global pandemic. So many vulnerable populations rely on WHO – deliberately undermining funding & trust now is shocking. Now is a time for global leadership & unity to save lives, not division and blame!” he tweeted. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi condemned the Trump’s decision, saying “the US act to punish the only coordinator of world health affairs amid the fight against a global disaster is the utmost irresponsibility and crime against humanity”.

“Main aim of Trump’s decision to defund WHO is blaming others and covering up the US government’s inefficiency in dealing with the novel coronavirus,” he said.

The African Union said the US decision is “deeply regrettable.”

“Today more than ever the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global Covid-19 pandemic response,” tweeted AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.

“Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate has never been more urgent.”