Geneva: In an interview with the Financial Times, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed his readiness to send a new team of experts to China to investigate the origins of Covid-19. Tedros stressed the importance of securing full access to information and cooperation from China in this investigation.

"We're pressing China to give full access, and we are asking countries to raise it during their bilateral meetings -- (to urge Beijing) to co-operate," Tedros told the FT. He also mentioned that the WHO had already written to China, requesting information and seeking permission to send a team to investigate further if China allows.

The origins of the Covid-19 pandemic have remained uncertain, with two primary theories being considered: the virus potentially escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan where research on such viruses was being conducted, or it may have originated from an intermediary animal at a local market in Wuhan.

An earlier investigation conducted by a team of specialists from the WHO, accompanied by Chinese colleagues, took place in early 2021. In their joint report, they favored the hypothesis that the virus had been transmitted from a bat to a human through an intermediary animal, possibly at a market.

Tedros emphasized that all possibilities are still being considered. However, there has not been another team able to return to China for further investigation, and the WHO has repeatedly requested additional data.

The WHO has consistently called for transparency from Beijing in sharing data, conducting investigations, and sharing the results. The organization previously lifted the highest alert level for the pandemic earlier this year due to progress made through vaccines, post-infection immunity, and improved treatment. Despite this progress, new variants continue to emerge, particularly as the Northern Hemisphere enters autumn.