Wuhan was at the epicentre of the outbreak
(Picture: Getty images)The UK and the US are among 14 countries who have criticised China for failing to disclose data during the World Health Organisation's investigation into the origins of Covid-19.
The 14 countries immediately called for China to give "full access" to independent experts to all data about the original outbreak in late 2019.
"Together, we support a transparent and independent analysis and evaluation, from from interference and undue influence, of the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic" the letter states.
The signatories go on to voice their concerns that the study was "significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples".
The letter was also signed by Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Republic of Korea, and Slovenia.
It comes after WHO's final report into Covid’s origin said the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal, and that a lab leak was "extremely unlikely" as a cause.
One of the team’s investigators has already said China refused to give raw data on early Covid-19 cases to the WHO-led team, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the global pandemic began.
"In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data," Mr Tedros said. "I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing."
Although the team concluded that a leak from a Wuhan laboratory was the least likely hypothesis for the virus that causes Covid-19, Mr Tedros said the issue required further investigation, potentially with more missions to China.
"I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough," he told member states in remarks released by the WHO. "Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions."
The WHO team's leader, Peter Ben Embarek, told a press briefing it was "perfectly possible" the virus had been circulating in November or October 2019 around Wuhan, and so potentially spreading abroad earlier than documented so far.
"We got access to quite a lot of data in many different areas, but of course there were areas where we had difficulties getting down to the raw data and there are many good reasons for that," he said, citing privacy laws and other restrictions.
Second phase studies were required, Mr Ben Embarek added.
